None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Body dysmorphic disorder is a characterised by perceived defects or flaws in appearance which are associated with distressing thoughts, repetitive or obsessive behaviours, and significant impairment in social and occupational functioning. A core feature of BDD involves abnormalities of visual processing, although this is predominantly ignored within psychological and psychiatric treatments. While current treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy or antidepressant medications generally show moderate effectiveness in the short-term, those with BDD can have high relapse rates, perhaps as they can see ‘see’ their flaws or defects. The current research is a single group pilot study to trial a visual training program designed to remediate visual abnormalities and reduce symptom severity of BDD. This pilot trial will be conducted at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne Australia, and will involve up to 20 participants diagnosed with BDD. These participants will complete pre- and post-assessments, and a 10-week visual training program encompassing three phases of: basic visual processing, face and emotion recognition, and self-perception. These training activities will include a combination of computer and therapist-administered tasks. Outcomes include a variety of clinical interview, self-report questionnaires, and a full eye tracking battery to assess overall clinical and visual performance across time. Analyses will compare participant’s overall symptom severity and eye movements across five timepoints using repeated measures ANOVAS. Qualitative data will also be collected to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the program using thematic analysis methods. This pilot trial will be the first of its kind to translate the empirical findings of abnormalities in visual processing among those diagnosed with BDD, to an innovative treatment method across a range of visual processing levels. This trial will additionally assess the efficacy and feasibility of such a visual training program, paving the way for additional research including future randomised control trials.
Interventions
Visual training program for body dysmorphic disorder: A novel intervention trial
Up to 20 participants diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) will be recruited to participate in a visual training program. The visual training program will involve three phases presented in a bottom up sequence, consisting of 1) basic visual processing, 2) face specific visual processing, and 3) self-perception. Phases 1 and 2 will be administered using computer tasks from Posit Science (Brain HQ), and phase
Visual training program for body dysmorphic disorder: A novel intervention trial Up to 20 participants diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) will be recruited to participate in a visual training program. The visual training program will involve three phases presented in a bottom up sequence, consisting of 1) basic visual processing, 2) face specific visual processing, and 3) self-perception. Phases 1 and 2 will be administered using computer tasks from Posit Science (Brain HQ), and phase 3 involves 'perceptual mirror retraining' activities drawn from the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Body Dysmorphic Disorder manual (Phillips, Wilhelm & Steketee, 2012). Phase 1 will be delivered during weeks 1-4 using the Posit Science computer training module. This phase will be administered in a one-on-one face-to-face consultation between the therapist and participant, where the therapist will provide instructions and answer any questions. Adherence will be monitored using feedback from posit science. Phase 2 will be delivered during weeks 5-8 using the Posit Science computer training module. This phase will be administered in a one-on-one face-to-face consultation between the therapist and participant, where the therapist will provide instructions and answer any questions. Adherence will be monitored using feedback from posit science. Phase 3 will be delivered during weeks 9 and 10 using perceptual mirror retraining principles. This phase will be administered in a one-on-one face-to-face consultation between the therapist and participant, where the therapist will instruct, and guide the participant through the exercise and answer any questions. This visual training program will be presented over a series of 10 weekly sessions, with each session running for one to two hours, resulting in a total of 16.8 hours in line with recommendations from Posit Science. Participants will complete a comprehensive pre- and post-assessment, including a range of self-report questionnaires, clinical interview measures, and a full eye-tracking battery. Between each phase, participants will also complete a brief assessment to track for any change throughout the program, including a brief symptom severity measure and eye tracking task. This program will be conducted by a provisional psychologist who has received specialised training in BDD in both clinical and research-specific contexts. The provisional psychologist will be blind to all assessment results. This training program will be administered face-to-face at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Sponsors
Swinburne University of Technology
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. between the ages of 18 to 65 years old 2. have a primary diagnosis of BDD 3. have a preferred language of English 4. are available to attend 10 weekly treatment sessions at Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
Exclusion criteria
1. unable to provide informed consent 2. history of neurological or eye conditions 3. lifetime diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, substance dependence disorder, or a psychotic disorder
Outcome results
None listed