Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Gender differences and prevalence in a Pakistani medical student population

Abstract

BackgroundBody dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect which causes significant distress or impairment in functioning. Few studies have assessed gender differences in BDD in a non clinical population. Also no study assessed BDD in medical students. This study was designed to determine the point prevalence of BDD in Pakistani medical students and the gender differences in prevalence of BDD, body foci of concern and symptoms of BDD.MethodsThe medical students enrolled in a medical university in Karachi, Pakistan filled out a self-report questionnaire which assessed clinical features of BDD. BDD was diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria.ResultsOut of the 156 students, 57.1% were female. A total of 78.8% of the students reported dissatisfaction with some aspect of their appearance and 5.8% met the DSM-IV criteria for BDD. The male to female ratio for BDD was 1.7. Regarding gender differences in body foci of concern, the top three reported foci of concern in male students were head hair (34.3%), being fat (32.8%), skin (14.9%) and nose(14.9%), whereas in females they were being fat (40.4%), skin (24.7%) and teeth (18%). Females were significantly more concerned about being fat (p = 0.005). Male students were significantly more concerned about being thin (p = 0.01) and about head hair (p = 0.012).ConclusionBDD is fairly common in our medical student population, with a higher prevalence in males. Important gender differences in BDD symptomatology and reported body foci of concern were identified which reflected the influence of media on body image perception. The impact of cultural factors on the prevalence as well as gender differences in BDD symptomatology was also established.

Emergency Aesthetic Approaches to Patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Report of Three Cases

“…BDD often goes unrecognized and undiagnosed because of patients' reluctance to divulge their symptoms because of secrecy and shame (2). Taqui et al reported that about 60% of students with BDD tried to camouflage their perceived physical "defect," and 54% had the habit of compulsively touching their physical "defect" (11). We observed that all of the three patients in our study covered their mouths with their hands while talking.…”

“…Cansever et al showed the head/face area to be the most common body region of concern (70%) (14). Taqui et al reported that body foci of concern in 156 students were: being fat (49%), skin (32%), and teeth (23%) (11). In our study, there was only one concern about the appearance of their body parts, which was their teeth.…”

Body Dysmorphic Disorder among Diverse Racial/Ethnic and Sexual Orientation Groups: Prevalence Estimates and Associated Factors

“…National population-based surveys indicate an estimated prevalence of BDD at 2.4% in the United States (Koran et al 2008), and 1.7% in Germany (Rief et al 2006). Using other methodologies, including the use of non-random convenience samples, has resulted in an estimated BDD prevalence of 2.3% in Australia (Bartsch 2007), 5.8% in Pakistan (Taqui et al 2008), 16% in inpatient clinical populations (Conroy et al 2008), 2.2% among adolescents (Mayville et al 1999), 5.3% in German university students (Bohne et al 2002a), and 4.0% in American university students (Bohne et al 2002a).…”

“…The mean age of onset for BDD is between ages 14 and 16 (Phillips and Diaz 1997;Phillips et al 1993), and some researchers have found BDD to be more common in younger people than older adults (Koran et al 2008). The disorder is thought to be as common in men as women (Phillips 1996;Phillips and Diaz 1997;Pope et al 2000;Rief et al 2006), though some studies have shown higher rates with groups of men (Hollander et al 1993;Ishigooka et al 1998;Phillips et al 1993;Taqui et al 2008), while others show higher rates among women (Biby 1998;Koran et al 2008;Mayville et al 1999;Phillips et al 2005;Veale et al 1996).…”

Insatisfação com a imagem corporal e fatores associados em universitários

“…9 Os homens por sua vez também sofrem com a concepção de beleza atribuída pela mídia que, atualmente, tem deslumbrado uma musculatura bem desenvolvida. 25 Por esse motivo, alguns autores afirmam que a insatisfação por magreza parece estar em crescente aumento entre os homens, 14,26 fato também registrado no presente estudo. Assim, o desejo dos homens em tral, o alto percentual de universitários pesquisados, assim como a padronização dos métodos de coleta de dados, incluindo o rigoroso treinamento dos pesquisadores e o controle de qualidade, durante todo o período do trabalho de campo.…”