CASE STUDY: Cognitive behavior therapy for body dysmorphic disorder in an adult

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is defined as the obsessive idea that some aspect of one’s own body or appearance is severely flawed or ugly, which leads to excessive avoidance/safety-seeking behavior or mental acts, and therefore to an increase in psychosocial impairment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended as one of the first-line treatments for BDD. This chapter introduces the main components of CBT for BDD, including exposure and response prevention and the reconstruction of thoughts, and discusses the case study of Anastacia. Anastacia’s BDD involves her losing her hair and specific rituals of brushing and counting her hair for several hours per day. In the case study, the main components of CBT and elements of acceptance and commitment therapy are illustrated.