Perceptual Abnormalities and Their Malleability in BDD

Participation Requirements

• Sex:

  ALL

• Eligible Ages:

  18 to 40

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Body dysmorphic disorder: Inclusion:

* males or females
* ages 18-40
* meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) criteria for Body Dysmorphic Disorder
* have a Body Dysmorphic Disorder version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Scale (BDD-YBOCS) score of ≥20
* primary appearance concerns of the face or head area
* medication naïve or medication free for at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment

Inclusion Criteria:

Subclinical body dysmorphic disorder: Inclusion:

* males or females
* ages 18-40
* have a score on the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire of ≥8 \[1 standard deviation (STD) above population norms\] - primary appearance concerns of the face or head area
* medication naïve or medication free for at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy controls: Inclusion

* Healthy males and females from any racial or ethnic background - ages 18-40
* have a score on the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire of \<8

Exclusion Criteria:

Body dysmorphic disorder: Exclusion

* concurrent major Axis I disorders including substance use disorders, aside from anxiety disorders or depressive disorders, as these comorbidities are very common and the sample would otherwise be non-representative; however BDD must be the primary diagnosis.
* lifetime: bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder.
* psychotropic medications, aside from a short half-life sedative/hypnotic for insomnia, or a short half-life benzodiazepine as needed for anxiety but not exceeding a frequency of 3 doses in one week and not to be taken on the days of the training or MRI scan
* current cognitive-behavioral therapy

Exclusion:

Subclinical body dysmorphic disorder: Exclusion

* meet full DSM-5 criteria for Body Dysmorphic Disorder
* current Axis I disorders including substance use disorders
* lifetime: bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder
* psychotropic medications, aside from a short half-life sedative/hypnotic for insomnia, or a short half-life benzodiazepine as needed for anxiety but not exceeding a frequency of 3 doses in one week and not to be taken on the days of the training or MRI scan
* current cognitive-behavioral therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

Healthy Controls: Exclusion

* Any current Axis I disorder
* lifetime: bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder
* Psychiatric medication

Exclusion Criteria:

All participants: Exclusion

* Neurological disorder
* Pregnancy
* Current major medical disorders that may affect cerebral metabolism such as diabetes or thyroid disorders - Current risk of suicide with a plan and intent
* Ferromagnetic metal implantations or devices (electronic implants or devices, infusion pumps, aneurysm clips, metal fragments or foreign bodies, metal prostheses, joints, rods or plates)
* Visual acuity worse than 20/35 for each eye as determined by Snellen close vision acuity chart (vision will be tested with corrective lenses if participant uses them).