A systematic review of visual processing in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by a preoccupation with perceived flaws in appearance.
• Visual processing anomalies are increasingly studied in BDD, but consistent behavioral patterns are not well-established.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive overview of visual processing in BDD.

Approach:

• This systematic review analyzed studies on visual processing in individuals with BDD.
• Articles were sourced from MEDLINE and PubMed, focusing on research published after 1990.
• Inclusion criteria required a clinical BDD group and relevant visual processing data.

Key Points:

• Individuals with BDD exhibit deficits in emotional face processing.
• A potential overreliance on detail processing and aberrant eye-scanning behaviors were observed.
• BDD samples may show a tendency to overvalue attractiveness.

Conclusions:

• Consistent evidence points to visual processing deficits in BDD, though the specific nature remains unclear.
• Heterogeneity in BDD samples and experimental designs contribute to inconsistent findings.
• Distinguishing BDD deficits from those in OCD or eating disorders presents challenges.