Body Dysmorphia Worksheet

What is body dysmorphic disorder?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by excessive preoccupation with imagined flaws in one's physical appearance, regardless of whether those flaws are observable to others. BDD is distinct from simply having a body image problem; it involves constant or persistent worry about imagined flaws disproportionate to their actual appearance.

The criteria for BDD (set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)) include intense distress and engaging in repetitive behaviors related to perceived flaws such as excessive grooming, exercise, or requesting reassurance (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). People with dysmorphic disorder often present with negative thought patterns about themselves and their worth.

The concept of body image (how one perceives one's own body) is central to BDD diagnosis and therapy. Effective treatment strategies often cultivate a neutral or positive body image by helping individuals identify distorted thoughts and perceptions. This often entails shifting focus away from self-objectification and towards body functionality.

BDD affects not only mental health but also overall functioning and quality of life. Excessive focus on appearance can impair social interactions, hinder professional aspirations, and strain personal relationships. Additionally, individuals with BDD may neglect their physical health, prioritizing cosmetic 'improvement' over well-being.

How does our Body Dysmorphia Worksheet work?

Our Body Dysmorphia Worksheet is comprised of practical exercises for mental health professionals treating individuals with body dysmorphic disorder. Here's how it works:

Step 1: Download the template

Download the Body Dysmorphia Worksheet template by following the link on this page or via the Carepatron app. It can be filled digitally or as a hard copy for your convenience.

Step 2: Understand the instructions

Familiarize yourself with the objectives of the worksheet and how to use it effectively. Explain the purpose of the exercises to your patient.

Step 3: Fill in personal information

Instruct the patient to fill in their personal information, including name, age, date, and therapist's name, at the top of the page.

Step 4: Set goals for the session

Work with the patients to identify three specific goals they want to achieve during the session, such as identifying triggers for negative body image or developing coping strategies. This provides a helpful basis for approaching the worksheet task and ensures targeted intervention.

Step 5: Answer the questions

Encourage the patient to respond to each question honestly and thoughtfully, describing their perceptions and feelings regarding their body image. You may wish to work through it with them in person or assign it as a homework task. The worksheet will prompt them to identify their perceived flaws and bring awareness to how this anxiety impacts their life.  

Step 6: Reflect on responses

Work with the patient to reflect on their answers. Consider any patterns or insights regarding their body image that came up and their impacts. Here, the therapist should provide guidance, tailored support, and gather insight for future interventions.

What are the benefits of using our worksheet?

Here are some advantages of using our Body Dysmorphia Worksheet:

Improves body image

This worksheet facilitates systematic exploration of thoughts and emotions related to body image, including the individual's specific body image problem and any positive body image characteristics the therapist can leverage.

Reduces self-objectification

Engaging in exercises designed to challenge negative predictions and assumptions about one's appearance can lead to reduced self-objectification and increased self-acceptance. This worksheet can support patients in viewing themselves more holistically and positively instead of using body image as a definitive measure of self-worth.

Provides a holistic approach

Our worksheet offers a holistic model for addressing body image concerns, considering physical, emotional, and psychological aspects to promote overall well-being.

Empowers patients

This worksheet is a valuable tool for self-exploration and personal growth, helping patients engage with the therapeutic process and develop self-awareness. This may be especially beneficial for young adult women affected by unrealistic societal pressures, but the worksheet can be beneficial for anyone with body dysmorphic disorder.

Integrates with therapy

BDD therapy often requires a multifaceted approach. This worksheet has been formulated to integrate into wider treatment strategies easily and can be adapted to the needs of specific patients.

BDD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

BDD typically emerges in adolescence, affecting about 1% of the population across genders. Risk factors include familial history of similar disorders, certain personality traits, and life experiences (John Hopkins Medicine, 2020). BDD leads to repetitive behaviors aimed at concealing, inspecting, or seeking reassurance about disliked body parts, which can become very time-consuming and challenging to control.

Typical behaviors include camouflaging, comparing features, mirror checking, excessive grooming, skin picking, changing clothes, tanning, excessive exercising, shopping for appearance-related items, seeking cosmetic procedures, and taking many photographs of oneself. These behaviors often exacerbate symptoms rather than alleviate them (Phillips, 2014).

In diagnosing BDD, mental health professionals evaluate symptoms and their impact on daily life. They also must rule out other mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, which may account for these symptoms.

Effective treatment of BDD primarily involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which targets maladaptive cognitive patterns and anxiety concerning body perception. This reduces self-objectification and shifts thinking towards body functionality, typically using graded exposure, motivational interviewing techniques, and behavioral experiments to confront appearance-related fears.

Addressing underlying psychological factors, such as low self-esteem or perfectionism, can help disrupt the cycle of self-objectification and promote self-acceptance. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have also been found effective in reducing body dysmorphic disorder symptoms.

References

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

John Hopkins Medicine. (2020). Body dysmorphic disorder. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/body-dysmorphic-disorder

Phillips, K. A. (2014). Signs & symptoms of BDD. International OCD Foundation. https://bdd.iocdf.org/professionals/signs-symptoms/