A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Sarah N Brennan; Susan L Rossell; Imogen Rehm; Neil Thomas; David J Castle

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1214803

A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 3:14:1214803. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1214803. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sarah N Brennan^{1

2}, Susan L Rossell^{1

3}, Imogen Rehm^{1

4}, Neil Thomas¹, David J Castle^{3

5}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
² Gatehouse Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³ Department of Psychiatry, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁴ Institute of Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.

Abstract

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by an intense preoccupation with one or more perceived "defects" in physical appearance. Despite the distress and impairment associated with BDD, the disorder remains understudied and poorly understood. In particular, there are limited studies available which give voice to those with firsthand experiences of the disorder. A qualitative approach was employed to study lived experience of BDD. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants with BDD, aiming to understand their subjective experiences of the disorder. Data was analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results identified three superordinate themes; (1) consumed by the disorder, (2) the flawed self, and (3) intolerance of uncertainty about appearance. The qualitative findings of this study are discussed in relation to current conceptual understandings of BDD, including the cognitive behavioral model.

Keywords: Body Dysmorhic Disorder; consumed by the disorder; interpretative phenomenological analysis; intolerance of uncertainty; lived experience; qualitative research; the flawed self.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (SB) and a Senior National Health and Medical Research Council Research Fellowship (GNT1154651 to SR). All funding sources had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.