title: Body dysmorphic disorder in patients with an eating disorder: prevalence and characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), an abnormal preoccupation with perceived defects in one or more body parts, and eating disorders (ED) share several essential clinical features, making it sometimes difficult to differentiate between the two disorders. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of BDD in patients with ED and to compare characteristics of ED patients with and without BDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured dysmorphic appearance concerns and behaviors, ED symptoms, general psychopathology, and quality of life in 158 patients seeking treatment for ED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five percent screened positive for BDD. Patients with both disorders (ED + BDD) had significantly more dysmorphic appearance concerns, had more psychopathology, and were dissatisfied with a larger number of body parts than patients with ED only. The differences remained significant even after correcting for severity of eating disorder psychopathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding suggests that BDD is a distinct comorbid disorder in almost half of the patients with ED. It is thus important to recognize and treat the manifestation of BDD in patients with both disorders. Given that the treatment of BDD is different from that of ED, it is important to recognize BDD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Eating Disorders Ursula, Leidschendam, The Netherlands. a.dingemans@centrumeetstoornissen.nl
authors.forename: Alexandra E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dingemans
authors.forename: Yanda R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: van Rood
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: van Furth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001828:Body Image; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires