Status of body dysmorphic disorder in Argentina

Although body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has received recent attention, it remains misunderstood and under-studied. The Argentine population seeks out plastic surgery at a disproportionate rate and exhibits high rates of preoccupation with bodily dissatisfaction, yet BDD is unrecognized and research is limited. The current study describes the prevalence, quality of life, and presentation style of BDD in depressed adolescents, as depression is the most common symptom for which adolescents seek treatment in Argentina. Twenty-five depressed adolescents and 85 non-depressed students were initially assessed for depression and BDD and subdivided depending on BDD status. Participants were assessed on various constructs including obsessions and compulsions, overvalued ideas, and overall level of impairment. A 2 × 2 factorial design was employed, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to analyze the data. Significant main effects were observed for all dependent measures (BDI, OVIS, YBOCS, and Sheehan Disability Scale) for depressed vs. non-depressed participants and BDD status; significant interactions were observed between independent variables for all dependent measures. Depressed adolescents had significantly higher scores on the YBOCS-BDD, OVIS, BDI, and the Sheehan Disability Scale compared to non-depressed participants; furthermore, individuals reporting BDD symptoms reported significantly higher scores on the YBOCS-BDD, OVIS, BDI, and Sheehan Disability Scale. Significant interactions are discussed according to BDD status and depression on dependent measures. Patients with BDD have poor quality of life and present with anxiety and depression, yet it still remains underdiagnosed.

Research highlights▶ This study explores the prevalence and presentation of BDD among depressed adolescents in an Argentine sample on which there is very little research. ▶ This study is especially important in that it focuses on two unique populations: adolescents, for whom BDD typically originates, and an Argentine sample, who have tremendous body preoccupation. ▶ It highlights the importance of proper assessment in diagnosing BDD especially in adolescents where it is most commonly originates. ▶ This problem is even more salient in a population that overvalues body image and has a preponderance of body concerns such as in the Argentine population. ▶ The current study showed that rates of BDD among depressed and non-depressed adolescents were comparable providing credence that BDD is underdiagnosed and often misunderstood.