Psychopathology and body image in cosmetic surgery patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of psychiatric symptoms and evaluate the perceptive, cognitive. and behavioral aspects of body image in cosmetic surgery patients. These parameters of 20 cosmetic patients and of 20 control patients matched for age, gender, education. and marital status who attended the general surgery department for minor surgery were compared in a cross-sectional design. Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and The Multi-Dimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire were administered to both groups. No significant difference was determined in the rates of psychopathology of the patient and control groups. Scales assessing self-image did not indicate any significant difference between the groups. Four (20%) of the cosmetic patients, however, were diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder according to DSM-IV. Cosmetic patients were usually defensive towards psychological evaluations. A wide range of diversity was determined in the psychiatric evaluation of the cosmetic patient group. While some patients exhibited healthy psychological traits, some had severe depressive disorder or nearly psychotic somatic preoccupations.