Systematic review of the diagnostic category muscle dysmorphia

Abstract

The current evidence does not ensure the validity, clinical utility, nosological classification and inclusion of muscle dysmorphia as a new disorder in classificatory systems of mental disorders.

Muscle Dysmorphia Research Neglects DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

“…Such attempts have also been reported prior to 2013 (e.g., Murray, et al, 2010;Murray et al, 2012). Even though there is evidence to support the association between BDD and MD (e.g., Hitzeroth et al, 2001;Phillips & Diaz, 1997;Pope et al, 1997;Pope et al, 2005), more recent research questions the current proposed MD criteria (Dos Santos Filho, 2016;Nieuwoudt et al, 2016;Xinhong et al, 2015), and therefore it is suggested that the category MD may need to be re-evaluated for the best fit for diagnostic classification. With research neglecting the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for MD, this limits the practical applications the research has in informing clinical practice.…”

“…If these concerns are not dealt with, they will continue to substantially limit knowledge advancement in the field. Most studies investigating MD have been conducted in the United States post its literary inception (Dos Santos Filho et al, 2016), however, the present systematic review found that, and according to geographical regions, European countries produced more studies (n = 11) compared to that of Unites States (n = 9), Australia (n = 7), United Kingdom (n = 3) South America (n = 2), and China (n = 1) in recent years post the DSM-5 release. Similar results have been found by Tod et al (2016), who stated MD has sparked global interest among researchers with the significant amount of non-English publications.…”

“…Murray and Touyz (2012) debate that the phenomenology of MD is markedly different to the features of BDD, such as presentations of BDD do not generally include diet and exercise related psychopathology. Additionally, others argue that the evidence on MD does yet not confirm the validity, nosological classification, and inclusion for MD as a new mental health disorder (e.g., Dos Santos Filho et al, 2016).…”

“…Out of 34 studies reviewed between 1997 and 2014, only nine of these acknowledged MD as a specifier for BDD, and most did not discuss the nosological status of MD or considered the evidence to be too weak for any psychiatric classification (Dos Santos Filho et al, 2016).…”

“…With the existing reviews on MD covering the literature up until October 2014 (Dos Santos Filho et al, 2016;Suffolk, Dovey, Goodwin, & Meyer, 2013), there is now a need for further extension of this knowledge base and reorganizing established knowledge with the release of the DSM-5 on 18 th May 2013, and MD being officially recognized as a specifier for BDD that year (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). As such, 2013 may be viewed as a breakthrough year for the disorder, and may have accumulated some changes in the way MD research is now being conducted and understood.…”