Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Supportive Psychotherapy for Body Dysmorphic Disorder

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptoms (as measured by the BDD-YBOCS) [ Time Frame: Change in BDD-YBOCS from baseline (week 0) to post-treatment (week 24) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• Insight regarding BDD Symptoms (as measured by the BABS) [ Time Frame: Measured every six weeks during treatment, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Depressive symptoms (as measured by the BDI-II) [ Time Frame: Measured every week during treatment, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Functioning and life satisfaction (as measured by the SDS and Q-LESQ-SF) [ Time Frame: Measured every six weeks during treatment, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Treatment credibility and satisfaction with treatment (as measured by the Credibility/Expectancy Rating and CSQ-8) [ Time Frame: Measured four times during the study (week 0 [pre-treatment], week 4, week 12, and week 24 [post-treatment]) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Beliefs about appearance (as measured by the ASI-R) [ Time Frame: Measured three times during the study (week 0 [pre-treatment], week 12, and week 24 [post-treatment]) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Neuropsychological functioning (as measured by the ROCF) [ Time Frame: Measured three times during the study (week 0 [pre-treatment], week 12, and week 24 [post-treatment]) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Information processing (as measured by the ERT) [ Time Frame: Measured three times during the study (week 0 [pre-treatment], week 12, and week 24 [post-treatment]) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a common and severe disorder in which a person is preoccupied by perceived defects in his or her appearance. The purpose of this research study is to learn more about two different forms of therapy to help individuals with BDD: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a promising new treatment for BDD, and supportive psychotherapy (SPT), the most commonly received therapy for BDD. The investigators would like to find out which treatment is more effective for BDD. The investigators will also examine patient characteristics that may predict response to treatment.

Participants will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to receive 22 sessions (over 24 weeks) of either CBT or SPT. Both treatments teach participants about BDD. CBT focuses on helping participants to develop more adaptive thoughts and beliefs and to gradually reduce avoidance and compulsive (repetitive) behaviors. SPT focuses on relationships, feelings, and other factors that may affect BDD symptoms (e.g., work, stress), and helps participants to cope with challenges in their life by improving self-esteem and positive coping.

For each participant, this study will last for 12 months. CBT and SPT sessions occur for 22 sessions over 24 weeks. The severity of participants' BDD-related symptoms and other symptoms will be assessed at the end of treatment (week 24), and at 3- and 6-months after treatment ends.