Lecture 12 - Body Dysmorphia - For student

Body Dysmorphia Overview

  • Definition:

    • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): A mental disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation with perceived defects in physical appearance, which may be imagined or actual.

    • Results in harmful behaviours to hide or fix imagined flaws (e.g., mirror checking, reassurance seeking).

  • Prevalence:

    • Affects approximately 1.7-2.2% of the population (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Learning Objectives

  • Define body dysmorphia and muscle dysmorphia.

  • Identify prevalence rates of dysmorphia.

  • Understand behavioural characteristics of muscle dysmorphia.

  • Explain diagnosis and measurement of body dysmorphia.

  • Discuss risk factors and treatment options for muscle dysmorphia.

  • Review the study by Outar et al. (2021).

  • Analyze the role of social media in body/muscle dysmorphia.

Muscle Dysmorphia

  • Definition:

    • A subtype of BDD characterized by:

      • Preoccupation with being lean and muscular.

      • Negative beliefs about one’s body leading to avoidance behaviours and anxiety.

      • The condition affects social functioning and other life aspects.

  • Alternate Names: "Bigorexia" or "reverse anorexia."

  • Prevalence:

    • Estimates range from 1-54%; approximately 6.9% of young men and 22% of individuals with BDD are affected (American Psychiatric Association, 2022).

  • Demographics:

    • Primarily affects men but rising concerns in women (Compte et al., 2015; Grogan, 2008; Homan, 2010).

Common Behavioural Characteristics of Muscle Dysmorphia

  • Excessive focus on achieving muscularity.

  • Social relationship withdrawal and avoidance of events.

  • Restrictions on body exposure and clothing choices.

  • Disordered eating behaviours (e.g., orthorexia).

  • Heavy exercise and strict diets.

  • Increased likelihood of steroid use.

Diagnosis and Measurement

  • No specific diagnostic tool for body dysmorphia; it involves observation by health providers.

  • Often assessed through self-reported symptoms and behavioural patterns.

  • Commonly used: Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI).

Risk Factors for Muscle Dysmorphia

  • Demographics:

    • Young males, particularly in late adolescence and early adulthood.

    • White bodybuilders and athletes.

  • Personal Traits:

    • Perfectionism, competitiveness, and a need for control.

  • History:

    • Past psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., eating disorders, mood disorders).

    • Previous trauma (e.g., bullying, abuse).

    • Higher screen time correlates with risk (Ganson, 2023; Tod et al., 2016).

Treatment of Body Dysmorphia & Muscle Dysmorphia

  • Psychological interventions are essential for addressing the root of muscle dysmorphia.

Muscle Dysmorphia Intervention Study (Outar et al., 2021)

  • Purpose:

    • To evaluate the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on MD symptoms and irrational beliefs.

  • Participants:

    • 4 participants (2 males, 2 females), aged 18-26 with MD symptoms.

  • Design:

    • Single-case, staggered multiple-baseline across participants.

Intervention Phases

  • Psychoeducational Phase:

    • Introduces basic REBT principles and the ABCDE framework (Activate, Beliefs, Consequences, Dispute, Effective).

  • Cognitive Restructuring Phase:

    • Focus on restructuring irrational beliefs to healthier ones.

  • Reinforcement Phase:

    • Practice of new rational beliefs and behaviours.

Intervention Outcomes

  • Dependent Variables:

    • Muscle Dysmorphia Symptoms: Focused on beliefs about body fat and self-worth.

  • Results Summary:

    • Significant decreases in irrational beliefs and medium improvements in MD symptoms post-intervention.

    • Notable improvement in unconditional self-acceptance.

Social Media and Body Dysmorphia

  • Social media significantly affects body image perception.

  • Limited research but indicates a link between social media use and body dysmorphia symptoms.

  • Associated with exposure to extreme body ideals and upward social comparisons.

  • Increased screen time correlates with higher dysmorphia symptoms.

  • Vulnerable individuals (e.g., perfectionists) are more susceptible to negative effects.

Conclusion

  • Body dysmorphia is increasingly prevalent; however, its exact prevalence remains uncertain.

  • Multiple risk factors contribute to body and muscle dysmorphia.

  • Debate over treatment effectiveness emphasizes psychological mechanisms rather than just behavioural changes.

  • Social media amplifies problems associated with dysmorphia but is not the sole cause.

Final Tasks

  • Reading Assignment: Chapter 4 recommended for further insights on the topic.

  • Quiz: Complete Quiz 12 on Muscle Dysmorphia by the deadline (March 11, 2025 @ 11:59 pm).