Clinical features and correlates of major depressive disorder in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder.
BACKGROUND
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) appear highly comorbid. However, MDD in individuals with BDD has received little investigation.


METHODS
The prevalence and characteristics of comorbid MDD were assessed in 178 BDD subjects. BDD subjects with current comorbid MDD (n=68) were compared to BDD subjects without current comorbid MDD (n=96) on demographic and clinical characteristics. Predictors of current MDD were determined using logistic regression.


RESULTS
74.2% of subjects had lifetime MDD, and 38.2% had current MDD. The melancholic subtype was most common, and a majority of depressed subjects had recurrent episodes. Mean onset of BDD occurred at a younger age than MDD. Subjects with current comorbid MDD had many similarities to those without MDD, although those with comorbid MDD had more severe BDD. Subjects with comorbid MDD were also more likely to have an anxiety or personality disorder, as well as a family history of MDD. They also had greater social anxiety, suicidality, and poorer functioning and quality of life. Current MDD was independently predicted by a personality disorder and more severe BDD.


CONCLUSIONS
It is unclear how generalizable the results are to the community or to subjects ascertained for MDD who have comorbid BDD. The study lacked a comparison group such as MDD subjects without BDD.


CONCLUSIONS
MDD is common in individuals with BDD. Individuals with current MDD had greater morbidity in some clinically important domains, including suicidality, functioning, and quality of life. A personality disorder and more severe BDD independently predicted the presence of current MDD.
Phillips
Katharine A
KA
Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI 02906, United States. Katharine_Phillips@brown.edu
Didie
Elizabeth R
ER
Menard
William
W
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data