Fluvoxamine in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder (dysmorphophobia)

Fifteen consecutive patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) were included in a 10-week open clinical trial of fluvoxamine. Treatment began at 100 mg/day fluvoxamine and was increased to a maximum of 300 mg/day or until intolerable side effects developed or a complete or nearly complete resolution of symptoms occurred. At baseline and at weeks 2, 6 and 10, patients completed the Hopkins Symptoms Check-List (HSCL-90) and a specific rating scale for BDD symptoms (BDDSS), and clinicians completed a Clinical Global Improvement Scale. Twelve of the 15 patients completed the trial. Of the three patients who did not complete the study, one improved moderately during the placebo phase, one showed a marked worsening of the depressive symptoms during the wash-out phase and one showed adverse side effects, such as nausea and diarrhoea, after the first week of treatment and was unable to continue the trial. After 10 weeks, of the 12 remaining patients, 10 were considered to be markedly improved, one minimally improved and one unchanged. Several outcome measures showed a significant improvement from baseline to week 10. Our findings suggest that fluvoxamine may be effective in the treatment of BDD. Double-blind studies will be required to investigate these findings further.