The primary form of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) treatment is cognitive behavior therapy, both with and without medication. Cognitive behavior therapy for body dysmorphic disorder treatment involves the patient and therapist working together and taking active roles in assessing the problem. The goal is to devise concrete, active steps towards alleviating the symptoms.

Body dysmorphic disorder treatment using cognitive behavior therapy
With cognitive behavior therapy, the therapist helps the patient create a detailed list of "exposure exercises" that will gradually and repetitiously expose them to their anxiety-producing situations (e.g., standing in front of a mirror). During therapy sessions, the patient is exposed to his or her fears, starting with the least anxiety-provoking items from the exposure list or heirarchy. A variation of exposure therapy in body dysmorphic disorder treatment may also entail imaginal exposure where individuals imagine placing themselves in their anxiety-producing situations. The cognitive therapy component, also called cognitive restructuring, helps reduce the individuals' anxiety by helping them identify and ultimately correct the errors in thinking that they are making. An example of an error in thought of someone suffering from body dysmorphic disorder would be greatly exaggerating a minor skin blemish as a perceived major defect. When standard exposure along with imaginal exposure and cognitive therapy are combined this type of body dysmorphic disorder treatment can help to greatly reduce the frequency of the body dysmorphic disorder symptoms.

Body dysmorphic disorder treatment using medication Although extensive data to support this does not yet exist, it is felt that combining medication with cognitive behavior therapy may increase an individual's ability to benefit from body dysmorphic disorder treatment. Medication may be helpful for those individuals experiencing co-existing depression.

Common body dysmorphic disorder medications that may be used in treatment include anti-depressants such as: Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, and Anafranil. These medications have been found to be helpful in treating OCD, and are believed to help those suffering from body dysmorphic disorder as well as other obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.

If you or someone you know may require treatment for body dysmorphic disorder, contact Rogers Memorial Hospital at 1-800-767-4411 for an initial needs assessment, or a referral to a treatment provider in your area. To learn more about body dysmorphic disorder, visit out body dysmorphic disorder page.

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