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Dysmorphophobic Avoidance with Disturbed Bodily Perception

A Pilot Study of Exposure Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Isaac Marks  and
Joseph Mishan
Isaac Marks*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry and Bethlem–Maudsley Hospital
Joseph Mishan
Affiliation:
Bethlem Royal Hospital (now at Halliwick Day Hospital, London)
*
∗Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

Five chronically disabled dysmorphophobic patients with disturbed bodily perception improved with systematic exposure to avoided situations that evoked dysmorphophobic discomfort, and refraining from behaviours which reduced that discomfort. As avoidance and anxiety improved with exposure, so did associated bodily delusions. Four of the patients had additional problems, for which three cases had drugs at some time. The encouraging pilot results warrant a controlled study of exposure for dysmorphophobic avoidance and anxiety.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 152 , Issue 5 , May 1988 , pp. 674 - 678
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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