title: Subthreshold body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents: Prevalence and impact.
abstract: The aim of the current study was to establish the prevalence of subthreshold body dysmorphic disorder (subthreshold-BDD) in a community sample of adolescents, and to compare disorder correlates in individuals with subthreshold-BDD to those with probable full-syndrome BDD (probable-BDD) and those without BDD (non-BDD). Self-report questionnaires assessing DSM-IV BDD criteria, past mental health service use, and symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders, were completed by 3149 Australian high school students (mean age =14.6 years, 63.5% male). Male participants also completed measures assessing quality of life, muscularity concerns, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems. The prevalence of subthreshold-BDD was 3.4%, and probable-BDD was 1.7%. Compared to the non-BDD group, subthreshold-BDD was associated with elevated symptoms of comorbid psychopathology and greater past mental health service use, and in male-only measures, with poorer quality of life and elevated muscularity concerns. Subthreshold-BDD participants reported significantly lower mental health service use, and fewer symptoms of depression, eating disorders, and hyperactivity than probable-BDD participants, however, other comorbid symptoms did not differ significantly between these groups. These findings indicate that subthreshold-BDD is associated with substantial difficulties for adolescents in the general community. BDD screening should include subthreshold presentations, as these may be an important target for early intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Sophie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mond
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: jennie.hudson@mq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescent; Body dysmorphic disorder; Comorbidity; Prevalence; Subthreshold psychopathology