Motives for Illicit Drug Use Among Individuals With Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Drug use disorders (DUDs) are highly prevalent in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), but motives for illicit drug use in BDD have not yet been explored. This study examined motives for drug use and clinical correlates of drug use motives in a sample of individuals with BDD and lifetime drug use, using the Drug Use Motives Questionnaire and 3 additional body image-specific drug use motives. As predicted, the Drug Use Motives Questionnaire coping motive was positively associated with attempted suicide and a lifetime DUD. All 3 body image-specific motives for drug use were also significantly associated with a lifetime DUD. In addition, they were the only variables that were significantly associated with greater severity of BDD. These results build on previous evidence suggesting that coping motives are related to problematic substance use and suicide attempts in BDD.