Treatment Modifications and Suggestions to Address Visual Abnormalities in Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Abstract

Recent psychophysical and neurocognitive findings implicate abnormal visual processing for a range of stimuli in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD); such abnormalities differentiate BDD from other mental health disorders. Current treatments most commonly involve cognitive behavior therapy with or without accompanying antidepressant medications. These are moderately successful yet appear to overlook the core phenomenological aspect of abnormal perception in BDD. The following text summarizes the current literature of perceptual abnormalities within BDD and how these findings may be applied and incorporated into treatment options. Possible modifications of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based on the widespread visual abnormalities within BDD include making perceptual mirror retraining a compulsory component of therapy and implementing self-exposure tasks within exposure and response prevention. Alternative options such as a visual training program to remediate visual abnormalities across a range of visual stimuli are also explored, which may be included as an adjunctive treatment alongside CBT.