Body dysmorphic disorder: Seven cases treated with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

In this paper we describe the use of EMDR in seven consecutive cases of body dysmorphic disorder with improvements.

Article Abstract

“Body dysmorphic disorder is an illness of generally chronic course which can lead to significant impairment of social functioning, unnecessary plastic surgery and even suicide. It is little understood and treatment regimens have been of uncertain efficacy. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a newly developed psychotherapeutic procedure used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, grief reactions and generalized anxiety. In this paper we describe its use in seven consecutive cases of body dysmorphic disorder. Improvements were obtained in six of the seven patients, five of whom had a complete resolution of their symptoms.”

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Brown, K. W., McGoldrick, T., & Buchanan, R. (1997). Body dysmorphic disorder: Seven cases treated with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25(2), 203–207. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465800018403