Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in a community sample of women

objective: In a large population-based study, the authors examined the prev alence and correlates of body dysmorphic disorder, a debilitating and chron ic condition characterized by an imagined defect in appearance. Method: Rates and diagnostic correlates of body dysmorphic disorder were ex amined by using data from the Harvard Study of Moods and Cycles. This study used in-person structured clinical interviews to characterize the diagnost ic status of a population-based, cross-sectional sample of 318 depressed an d 658 nondepressed women between the ages of 36 and 44 who were selected fr om seven Boston metropolitan area communities. Results: The presence of body dysmorphic disorder was significantly associa ted with the presence of major depression and anxiety disorders. The author s estimated the overall point prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder as 0.7 % in women in this age range in the community. Conclusions: The authors found that the presence of body dysmorphic disorde r was linked to the presence of major depression and anxiety disorders, whi ch is similar to findings in clinical studies. Their estimate of the point prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder is consistent with data from a commu nity-based sample of Italian women and suggests a prevalence similar to tha t of other serious psychiatric disorders in women (e.g., schizophrenia and drug abuse and dependence). These prevalence data encourage the further dev elopment of treatment options for this debilitating condition.