title: Multidimensional body image comparisons among patients with eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder, and clinical controls: a multisite study.
abstract: Body image disturbance is considered a core characteristic of eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), however its definition has been unclear within the literature. This study examined the multidimensional nature of body image functioning among individuals with either anorexia nervosa (AN; n=35), bulimia nervosa (BN; n=26), or BDD (n=56), relative to female (n=34) and male (n=36) psychiatric controls. Participants were recruited from 10 treatment centers in the United States and England and completed psychometrically validated and standardized self-report measures of body image. Overall, the AN, BN, and BDD groups were characterized by significantly elevated disturbances in most body image dimensions relative to their gender-matched clinical controls. There was variability, however, in the comparisons among the three groups of interest, including foci of body dissatisfaction and body image coping patterns. On omnibus indices of body image disturbance and body image quality of life, patients with BDD reported more body image impairment than those with eating disorders. Although AN, BN, and BDD are characterized by body image disturbances, similar and partially distinctive cognitive, behavioral, and emotional elements of body image functioning exist among these groups. The study's empirical and clinical implications are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA. jhrabosky@lifespan.org
authors.forename: Joshua I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Hrabosky
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Cash
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veale
authors.forename: Fugen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neziroglu
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Soll
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strachan-Kinser
authors.forename: Bette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakke
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Clauss
authors.forename: Katharine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs