title: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relatively common and severe disorder that typically onsets in adolescence, but often goes unrecognized. Despite BDD's severity and early onset, treatment outcome research on adolescent BDD is scarce. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the gold-standard psychosocial treatment for BDD in adults and has shown promise in adolescents. The current study examined the development and testing of a new CBT for adolescents with BDD. We tested feasibility, acceptability, and treatment outcome in a sample of 13 adolescents (mean age 15.23years, range: 13-17) with primary BDD. Treatment was delivered in 12-22 weekly individual sessions. Standardized clinician ratings and self-report measures were used to assess BDD and related symptoms pre- and posttreatment and at 3- and 6-months follow-up. At posttreatment, BDD and related symptoms (e.g., insight, mood) were significantly improved. Scores on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for BDD indicated a 50% (intent-to-treat) and 68% (completer) improvement in BDD symptoms. Seventy-five percent of adolescents who started treatment and 100% of completers were considered treatment responders. Treatment gains were maintained at follow-up. High patient satisfaction ratings and patient feedback indicated that treatment was acceptable. This represents the largest study of a psychosocial treatment for adolescent BDD.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Electronic address: jlgreenberg@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
authors.forename: Suraj Sarvode
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mothi
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000339:Affect; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001828:Body Image; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: BDD; adolescent; body dysmorphic disorder; cognitive-behavioral therapy; youth