Re:Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is generally seen as being closely related to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and the treatment approach is quite similar. After conducting a good assessment and developing a collaborative relationship, the therapist tries to develop of the client's cognitions and his or her fears. Then the therapist uses guided discovery to help the client understand that avoiding anxiety-eliciting situations temporarily reduces anxiety but perpetuates the problem. However, facing those situations and tolerating the anxiety until it peaks and begins to subside will result in gradual desensitization.

Once the client understands (and accepts) the treatment rationale Exposure and Response Prevention can begin. Therapist and client work together to identify the stimuli and situations which the client avoids and to identify the strategies the client uses to reduce anxiety. Then they systematically have the client face the situations which he or she avoids while refraining from using his or her usual anxiety-reducing strategies. This approach requires some persistence and the client has to tolerate a fair amount of anxiety but it works well.

I've come across a book which looks promising for use with this approach: Cash, T. F. (1997). The body image workbook: An 8-step program for learning to like your looks. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger (1-800-748-6273).

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Re:Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, by Robert Staffin, 04/27/01

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