Body dysmorphic disorder - Current and Previous Research

We are interested in understanding the brain basis of abnormal visual and emotional processing that may underlie disorders of body image.

Prior studies:

• Visual Information Processing of Faces in Body Dysmorphic Disorder
  In this study we are using a type of brain scan called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine which regions of the brain are active while processing visual information. Specifically we wish to determine if there are differences in how the brains of individuals with BDD process faces, as compared to those of healthy control subjects.
• Processing of Faces with Emotional Expressions in Body Dysmorphic Disorder
  This study sought to examine whether emotional expression on a face viewed by BDD patients affected their perception of that face. The data suggests that individuals with BDD have abnormalities in facial identification for faces with emotional expressions.
• Magnetic resonance volumetric analysis of brain regions in body dysmorphic disorder
  In this study we used MRI to compare the volumes of different brain regions in BDD subjects and the healthy population. Results showed a correlation between the severity of BDD symptoms and volumes of two regions: the left inferior frontal gyrus and the right amygdala. This suggests that these areas could be involved in the face processing abnormalities in BDD patients.
• Own-face Visual Processing in Body Dysmorphic Disorder
  We are investigating how BDD patients process their own face as compared to the faces of others. We are using fMRI to study the brain activity associated with processing one¹s own face and the face of a famous person.
• Object processing in Body Dysmorphic Disorder
  In addition to studying face-processing, we are testing for more general visual processing abnormalities buy using objects (houses) as stimuli.
• Global vs. Local processing in Body Dysmorphic Disorder
  People with BDD seem to have distortions in their perception of their appearance, often selectively perceiving small details of their ³defects.² We are investigating the possibility that they may use local (detail-oriented) processing to a greater extent than, and at the expense of, global (big-picture) processing when viewing their own face.