Pathological skin picking in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and clinical correlates of pathological skin picking (PSP) in a large sample of individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).


METHODS
One hundred seventy-six individuals with BDD (71.0% women; mean age, 32.5+/-12.3 years) were assessed with respect to comorbidity, BDD severity, delusionality (insight), quality of life and social/occupational functioning, using reliable and valid measures. All variables were compared in BDD subjects with and without lifetime PSP.


RESULTS
About 44.9% of subjects reported lifetime PSP, and 36.9% reported current PSP secondary to BDD. BDD subjects with PSP were more likely to be female, to have skin preoccupations, to have comorbid trichotillomania or a personality disorder, to camouflage with makeup and to seek and receive nonpsychiatric (e.g., dermatological) treatment for their skin preoccupations.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence of PSP among individuals with BDD, and clinicians should be aware of the clinical correlates of this problematic behavior.
Grant
Jon E
JE
Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. grant045@umn.edu
Menard
William
W
Phillips
Katharine A
KA
D000328:Adult; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*