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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research

Date Submitted: Feb 14, 2023
Date Accepted: Nov 20, 2023

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in the Spanish Population: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Questionnaire Study

Loewen Goñi , Blasco-Fontecilla H, Li C, Bella-Fernández M, Ruiz-Antorán B

Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in the Spanish Population: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Questionnaire Study

JMIR Form Res 2024;8:e46515

DOI: 10.2196/46515

PMID: 38175692

PMCID: 10797500

Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in the Spanish population: Descriptive Study

  • Álvaro Loewen Goñi; 
  • Hilario Blasco-Fontecilla; 
  • Chao Li; 
  • Marcos Bella-Fernández; 
  • Belén Ruiz-Antorán

ABSTRACT

Background:

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is defined as an excessive preoccupation with mild or non-existent defects in personal physical appearance, which are not perceived by others. Its ethology is multifactorial and underdiagnosed. Patients with BDD have a distortion of their body perception which is associated with clinical discomfort, resorting to cosmetic procedures.

Objective:

The objective is based on the study of the prevalence of BDD in Spain as well as the identification of the variables associated with it.

Methods:

Cross-sectional descriptive study with data collection through an anonymous online survey aimed at the Spanish population over 18 years of age. Sociodemographic variables, comorbidities with dermatological, psychiatric diseases and cosmetic procedures were analyzed, as well as assessment of quality of life using the SF-12v2 health survey and of BDD using the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire.

Results:

2091 participants, of whom 322 were diagnosed with BDD (15.2%) with a mean age of 23.5 (9.6) years and 88.2% female. Of the participants with BDD, 46.6% reported a history of psychiatric comorbidity, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and eating disorders. Patients with BDD showed a significantly lower mental health status than undiagnosed patients.

Conclusions:

BDD is more likely to be associated with other psychiatric illnesses. BDD appears to be a marker of patients' perception of their quality of life.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Loewen Goñi , Blasco-Fontecilla H, Li C, Bella-Fernández M, Ruiz-Antorán B

Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in the Spanish Population: Cross-Sectional Web-Based Questionnaire Study

JMIR Form Res 2024;8:e46515

DOI: 10.2196/46515

PMID: 38175692

PMCID: 10797500

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