title: Muscle dysmorphia: methodological issues, implications for research.
abstract: Muscle dysmorphia is a male-dominated, body image-related psychological condition. Despite continued investigation, contention surrounds the nosological status of this disorder. The aim of this article was to review the literature on muscle dysmorphia to provide a qualitative account of methodological issues that may inhibit our understanding. Key areas relating to non-standardized participant groups, measuring instruments, and terminology were identified as potentially inhibiting symptom coherence and diagnostic reliability. New measuring instruments validated with clinical samples and carefully described participant groups, standardized terminology, and a greater emphasis on prospective longitudinal research with specific sub groups of the weight training community would be of interest to the field.
authors.affiliation: a Loughborough University Centre for Research Into Eating Disorders (LUCRED) , School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University , Leicestershire , UK.
authors.forename: Mark T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Suffolk
authors.forename: Terence M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dovey
authors.forename: Huw
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012107:Research Design; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000523:psychology*