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Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in body dysmorphic disorder
Katharine A Phillips1, Meredith E Coles, William Menard
1Butler Hospital, Providence, RI 02906, USA. Katharine_Philips@brown.edu
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|June 18, 2005
Summary
Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) experience high rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. Functional impairment and comorbid conditions like depression and PTSD are linked to suicidality in BDD patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance.
- Suicidality in BDD is understudied, despite its potential severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence, associated factors, and predictive elements of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in individuals diagnosed with BDD.
- To understand the relationship between BDD severity, comorbid conditions, and suicidal behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 200 individuals diagnosed with DSM-IV BDD were recruited from various sources between January 2001 and June 2003.
- Standardized assessments were used to evaluate suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, functional impairment, and comorbid psychiatric disorders.
Main Results:
- High lifetime rates of suicidal ideation (78.0%) and suicide attempts (27.5%) were observed in the BDD cohort.
- BDD was the primary cause of suicidal ideation in over 70% of affected individuals.
- Suicidality was associated with lifetime and current functional impairment due to BDD, bipolar disorder, personality disorders (especially borderline), major depression, delusional beliefs, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with BDD exhibit significantly elevated rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
- Functional impairment stemming from BDD and the presence of specific comorbid disorders are critical factors associated with suicidality in this population.