Prevalence and Characteristics of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Among Patients in a Partial Hospital Program

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a common disorder that is usually associated with impaired functioning and high levels of suicidality. The current study is the first to assess prevalence of BDD among patients in a partial hospital program and compare patients with and without BDD on demographic and clinical variables. Participants were 207 patients with a variety of Axis I diagnoses. Prevalence of current BDD was 7.2%, and a diagnosis of BDD did not predict worse treatment outcome in the program. Patients with current BDD were more likely to be female and younger and have more comorbid diagnoses than patients without current BDD. No other significant differences were found at baseline between patients with and without current BDD. Results indicate that BDD is relatively common among patients in partial hospital programs and that such programs may be as beneficial to patients with BDD as to other patients.