Psychophysiological and Self-Report Components of Disgust in Body Dysmorphic Disorder: The Effects of Repeated Exposure

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a severe and debilitating psychiatric condition. While approaches to treatment relying on cognitive-behavior therapy modeled using exposure methods has shown promise, intervention is highly reliant on alleviating anxiety and depression. However, anecdotal evidence and clinical observations suggest that BDD sufferers experience disgust at their perceived physical imperfections. The present study examined the change in disgust reactivity, using psychophysiological and self-report measures, when individuals diagnosed with BDD were exposed to a mirror staring task over five 1-minute trials. Two groups completed the experiment, a BDD group (n = 6) and a non-psychiatric community control group (n = 6). Results revealed that the BDD group had higher baseline disgust reactivity, and showed significant decreases in disgust, as assessed with heart rate and hand temperature, compared to community controls. Individuals with BDD also reported significantly higher levels of disgust and anxiety during mirror staring than community controls. The results provide initial support for the assertion that disgust plays an important role in BDD. Future directions for research in this area are discussed.