Treatment Helpful
Cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in decreasing BDD symptoms. The cognitive part of the therapy consists of challenging patients’ misperceptions of their appearance and the importance they place on appearance. The therapy involves training patients to identify their thinking patterns and then, over time, to substitute more realistic thoughts.
The behavioral approach may involve systematic desensitization. Patients are gradually exposed to threatening situations and learn how to curtail their tendencies to hide and obsess about their appearance. As each situation is successfully handled, a more distressing one is presented.
While CBT alone can be effective in mild cases of BDD, success is more frequently obtained with a combination of CBT and medication, according to Allen. Recent studies by the Mount Sinai group and by Brown University School of Medicine researchers in Providence, Rhode Island have shown that selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
Some of the links that appear in this article may have been sponsored by a third-party for commercial purposes.
This information is not to substitute for professional medical advice. You
should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or
disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. Please
consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have
regarding your condition.
