Body dysmorphic disorder is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder but often much more impairing, and also a somatic disorder, having physical symptoms that are suggestive of a somatic disorder but with no detectible organic or neurological explanation. It is defined as:
BDD has a high comorbidity rate with many other disorders including major depression, avoidant personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, delusional disorder, and social phobia. Other symptoms of the disorder may include binge-eating.
Other conditions that may be confused with BDD include
Dr. Gorbis' Crooked Mirrors Externalization therapy is a ground-breaking protocol that utilizes both Externalization techniques and Exposure and Response Prevention. The process of 'externalization' works by causing the breakdown of maladaptive associations directed and repetitive manipulation of their external, material icons.
In exposure therapy, BDD patients are provided with a symptoms list and must then induce the debilitating condition and self-monitor/rate objective signs, such as pulse rate, extent of nausea, dizziness, and cognitive distortions e.g. 'My nose and forehead are too big.' Cognitive restructuring through writing exercises and observational records are emphasized.
Our success rate with this combined therapy is thus far is as follows: a 74.19% reduction of BDD-YBOCS scores, 67.97% reduction of YBOCS scores, 77.7% reduction of OCI-SV, 73.23% of OCON1 and 70.04% reduction of OCON2.