High Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Moderate to Severe Appearance-Related Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms Among Rhinoplasty Candidates

• Published in: Aesthetic plastic surgery 2019-08, Vol.43 (4), p.1000-1005
• Main Authors: Ramos, Tatiana Dalpasquale, de Brito, Maria José Azevedo, Suzuki, Vanessa Yuri, Sabino Neto, Miguel, Ferreira, Lydia Masako
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asymmetry; Body dysmorphic disorder; Defects; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Patient satisfaction; Perceptions; Personal appearance; Plastic Surgery; Rhinoplasty; Self image
• ISSN: 0364-216X; 1432-5241
• DOI: 10.1007/s00266-018-1300-1

Background Rhinoplasty is one of the most sought-after procedures in plastic surgery by individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The identification of BDD symptoms is a challenge for plastic surgeons. The purpose of this study was to use a specific instrument for detection of BDD symptoms as a screening tool in rhinoplasty candidates and estimate the prevalence and severity of BDD symptoms in this population. Methods Eighty patients of both sexes seeking rhinoplasty were consecutively recruited at a plastic surgery outpatient clinic of a university hospital from February 2014 to March 2015. In a clinical interview, 50 of them showed an excessive preoccupation with physical appearance associated with clinically significant subjective distress and were, therefore, selected to participate in the study. All participants were assessed using the Brazilian-Portuguese versions of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for BDD (BDD-YBOCS) and the Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale (BDSS), which can be applied by plastic surgeons, who are laypersons in psychology/psychiatry. Results Twenty-four (48%, 24/50) candidates had BDD symptoms, and 27 (54%, 27/50) showed moderate to severe appearance-related obsessive–compulsive symptoms. A strong correlation was found between the BDSS and BDD-YBOCS scores ( r  = 0.841, P