Body Dysmorphic Disorder News and Research

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Social media and low body esteem fuel cosmetic procedure addiction

As cosmetic procedures become increasingly normalized worldwide, new research suggests that for some women, repeated treatments may become addiction-like rather than purely cosmetic.

13 Jul 2026

New psychological scales measure personal attitudes toward cosmetic procedures

As non-surgical cosmetic procedures grow in popularity, accessibility and affordability, new Griffith University research has created two new measures to assess people's attitudes and motivations towards cosmetic procedures.

22 May 2026

Systematic analysis reveals psilocybin's impact on obsessive-compulsive behaviors

A systematic review published today in Psychedelics by Mr. James Gattuso and colleagues at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health synthesizes clinical and preclinical evidence on psilocybin's effects on obsessive-compulsive behaviors, revealing consistent therapeutic potential across human patients and validated animal models.

29 Oct 2025

Brain connectivity changes after psilocybin treatment in body dysmorphic disorder patients

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a debilitating mental illness characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in one's physical appearance.

24 Sep 2024

Understanding body dysmorphia through WhatsApp profiles of individuals with obesity

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has found that many people who are living with obesity conceal their body in their WhatsApp profile pictures.

14 May 2024

Adverse childhood experiences may increase the odds of muscle dysmorphia in young people

A new study published in Clinical Social Work Journal found that adolescents and young adults who experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) before the age of 18 were significantly more likely to experience symptoms of muscle dysmorphia.

1 Dec 2023

Women living with PCOS experience greater body image concerns than normal people

Women living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) experience greater body image concerns than individuals without the condition, according to research being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

15 Jun 2023

Brain thinning in youth associated with psychosis

Subtle differences in the shape of the brain that are present in adolescence are associated with the development of psychosis, according to an international team led by neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

5 May 2021

Study reveals partially overlapping patterns of brain function in people with anorexia and body dysmorphic disorder

A new UCLA study shows partially overlapping patterns of brain function in people with anorexia nervosa and those with body dysmorphic disorder, a related psychiatric condition characterized by misperception that particular physical characteristics are defective.

9 Sep 2020

How those with obsessive-compulsive disorder cope with added angst of COVID

Before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the United States, Chris Trondsen felt his life was finally under control. As someone who has battled obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental health issues since early childhood, it's been a long journey.

22 Jun 2020

“Rubber hand illusion” can help people overcome obsessive compulsive disorder

The famous, but bizarre, 'rubber hand illusion' could help people who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder overcome their condition without the often unbearable stress of exposure therapy, suggests new research.

9 Jan 2020

Cosmetic practitioners to screen patients for body dysmorphic disorder

A new professional body is introducing measures to ensure that health practitioners screen clients for mental health problems before carrying out cosmetic procedures.

30 Apr 2019

Snapchat dysmorphia - 'selfie-face' aspirations see rise in plastic surgery requests

Snapchat and Facetune as well as other social media apps come under fire in a new JAMA article. These apps are being increasingly used, causing more and more youngsters to alter and edit their faces to modify their actual appearance.

6 Aug 2018

Body dysmorphic disorder may be ‘under-diagnosed’ by cosmetic professionals, study suggests

Plastic surgeons and other cosmetic professionals are familiar with the challenges posed by patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) seeking cosmetic procedures, reports a survey study in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

7 Feb 2017

Long-term medication use reduces risk of relapse and improves symptoms in BDD patients

People with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) fare better and are less likely to relapse when treated with medication on a long-term basis, according to researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

11 Apr 2016

New UCLA study may lead to more precise treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Tens of millions of Americans -- an estimated 1 to 2 percent of the population -- will suffer at some point in their lifetimes from obsessive-compulsive disorder, a disorder characterized by recurrent, intrusive, and disturbing thoughts (obsessions), and/or stereotyped recurrent behaviors (compulsions).

26 Jun 2015

Study finds similar brain anomalies in people with anorexia and body dysmorphic disorder

People with anorexia nervosa and with body dysmorphic disorder have similar abnormalities in their brains that affect their ability to process visual information, a new UCLA study reveals.

9 Mar 2015

Personal rejection sensitivity linked with more severe BDD and depressive symptoms

In a recent study, researchers at Rhode Island Hospital found that fear of being rejected because of one's appearance, as well as rejection sensitivity to general interpersonal situations, were significantly elevated in individuals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

16 Jul 2014

Research finds correlation between OCD, body dysmorphia and tanning addiction

They keep tanning, even after turning a deep brown and experiencing some of the negative consequences. Skin cancer is among the most common, preventable types of the disease, yet many continue to tan to excess.

20 Feb 2014

UCLA study shows individuals with BDD have global bad wiring in their brains

Body dysmorphic disorder is a disabling but often misunderstood psychiatric condition in which people perceive themselves to be disfigured and ugly, even though they look normal to others. New research at UCLA shows that these individuals have abnormalities in the underlying connections in their brains.

30 Apr 2013