Trial Outcomes & Findings for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) (NCT NCT00871143)

NCT ID: NCT00871143

Last Updated: 2015-10-06

Results Overview

This is a clinician-rated scale administered by a trained blinded assessor. The range is 0-48. Cronbach's α for the scale is 0.80. Response to treatment is defined as a 30% or greater decrease in the total BDD-YBOCS score, which best corresponded to 'much improved' on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. In the original validation study, this cutoff score produced 1 false negative (96% sensitivity), that is, 1 participant who was rated as much or very much improved on the CGI was not classified as a responder on the BDD-YBOCS using the 30% threshold.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

46 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

12 weeks, 1 month post treatment

Results posted on

2015-10-06

Participant Flow

Recruitment: April 2009-March 2012. Single location: outpatient clinic at the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma at the Maudsley Hospital, London. Follow-ups: December 2009- September 2012. The trial ended when all participants had completed the follow-up. Last participant was recruited March 2012;last follow up was completed Sept 2012.

It was initially decided that 42 participants would be enrolled in the study (21 in each group), however in order to anticipate potential future drop outs, 46 participants were randomised into the 2 groups.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits of anxiety management were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Overall Study
STARTED
21
25
Overall Study
COMPLETED
21
25
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
This consisted of 12 wks of 1 hr sessions (1 per week).The consisted of engagement in a developmental understanding of the problem and setting up an alternative view of the problem. Imagery rescripting followed for past aversive memories that were associated with the onset (e.g. bullying). The behaviours were aimed at either (1) threat detection and monitoring or (2) preventing feared consequences by avoidance or (3) attempts to undo the appearance concerns. The therapist aimed to help individuals identify their beliefs about processes, conduct behavioural experiments that tested out their expectations and to gradually drop the safety-seeking behaviours and test out their fears.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Anxiety Management treatment was provided once a week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 1 hr. AM was planned to entail a therapeutic alliance, support and homework similar to the CBT group. The rationale provided was that when triggered, the person would experience a threat and negative thoughts about their appearance. This, in turn, would lead to physical symptoms of anxiety and magnify the perceived threat. The treatment consisted of (1) practising progressive muscle relaxation and breathing daily, (2) identifying triggers and physical symptoms associated with appearance-related anxiety and (3) utilising brief muscle relaxation and breathing techniques in trigger situations.
Total
n=46 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
21 Participants
n=5 Participants
25 Participants
n=7 Participants
46 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
30.0 years
n=5 Participants
29.0 years
n=7 Participants
30.0 years
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
15 Participants
n=7 Participants
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
10 Participants
n=7 Participants
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
21 Participants
n=7 Participants
37 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United Kingdom
21 participants
n=5 Participants
25 participants
n=7 Participants
46 participants
n=5 Participants
Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for BDD (BDD-YBOCS)
35.48 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.61 • n=5 Participants
37.68 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.77 • n=7 Participants
36.58 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.69 • n=5 Participants
Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS)
18.24 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.68 • n=5 Participants
18.96 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.14 • n=7 Participants
18.60 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.41 • n=5 Participants
Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
28.57 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.69 • n=5 Participants
30.04 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.62 • n=7 Participants
29.31 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.16 • n=5 Participants
Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI)
26.89 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.62 • n=5 Participants
27.78 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.03 • n=7 Participants
27.335 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.83 • n=5 Participants
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9
13.10 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.50 • n=5 Participants
13.60 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.44 • n=7 Participants
13.35 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.97 • n=5 Participants
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7
11.33 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.32 • n=5 Participants
13.09 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.24 • n=7 Participants
12.21 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.78 • n=5 Participants
Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI)
-1.97 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.56 • n=5 Participants
-1.68 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.04 • n=7 Participants
-1.83 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.80 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks, 1 month post treatment

This is a clinician-rated scale administered by a trained blinded assessor. The range is 0-48. Cronbach's α for the scale is 0.80. Response to treatment is defined as a 30% or greater decrease in the total BDD-YBOCS score, which best corresponded to 'much improved' on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. In the original validation study, this cutoff score produced 1 false negative (96% sensitivity), that is, 1 participant who was rated as much or very much improved on the CGI was not classified as a responder on the BDD-YBOCS using the 30% threshold.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Modified for BDD) (BDD -YBOCS) (Phillips et al., 1997)
12 weeks
23.47 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.23
32.87 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.45
Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Modified for BDD) (BDD -YBOCS) (Phillips et al., 1997)
1 month
21.37 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.42
33.30 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.72

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks, 1 month post treatment

BABS is a 7-item clinician scale rated by a blinded assessor to measure the strength of conviction in a belief (e.g. 'I am as ugly as the Elephant man'); each item is rated from 0 ('non-delusional belief, or least pathological') to 4 ('delusional belief, or most pathological') and the total scores range from 0 to 24; higher scores represent an increasing delusionality of beliefs; respondents are classified as having delusional BDD beliefs if their total score is 18 or more, and if they score 4 on the first item, indicating they are completely convinced that their belief is accurate.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Brown Assessment of Beliefs to Measure the Strength of Conviction in Beliefs About Being Ugly (Eisen et al., 1998)
12 week
12.75 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.11
17.92 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.42
Brown Assessment of Beliefs to Measure the Strength of Conviction in Beliefs About Being Ugly (Eisen et al., 1998)
1 month
10.28 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.41
18.88 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.62

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks, 1 month post treatment

MADRS is a 10-item clinician scale rated by a blinded assessor to measure symptoms of depression; each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 0 (indicating 'normal' or 'no difficulties') to 6, and the range is 0-60; higher scores reflect a greater symptomatology; a MADRS total score of ≥ 25 is regarded as moderate, and of \>31 as severe.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (Montgomery and Asberg, 1979).
12 week
21.71 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 11.20
25.98 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.80
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (Montgomery and Asberg, 1979).
1 month
20.40 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.14
28.63 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.32

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks, 1 month post treatment

The AAI is a 10- item self-report questionnaire for measuring the frequency of avoidance behaviour and threat-monitoring (e.g. checking, self-focussed attention) that are characteristic of a response to a distorted body image; each item is scored from 0 ('not at all') to 4 ('all the time'), and the range of the total scores is 0-40, with higher scores reflecting a greater frequency of the responses; the AAI has a Cronbach's α of 0.86.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI)
12 week
14.61 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.20
23.37 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.29
Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI)
1 month
14.16 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.53
23.21 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.86

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks, 1 month post treatment

The PHQ is a 9-item self-report measure of depression; each item is scored from 0 ('not at all') to 3 ('nearly every day'),and the summed total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores reflecting a greater symptomatology of depression; Cronbach's α for the scale is 0.89.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9
12 week
9.12 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.01
13.28 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.18
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9
1 month
9.41 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.67
15.79 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.05

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks,1 month post treatment

The GAD-7 is a 7-item self-report measure for symptoms of generalised anxiety; each item is scored from 0 to 3, and the summed total score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores reflecting a greater symptomatology; Cronbach's α for the measure is 0.92.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7
12 week
7.00 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.02
11.59 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.89
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7
1 month
8.53 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.60
13.22 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.45

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks, 1 month post treatment

The BIQLI is a 19-item self-report scale that measures the impact of body image concerns on a broad range of life domains (e.g. sense of self, social functioning, sexuality, emotional well-being, exercise and grooming); the BIQLI is scored as the average numeric score of all the items from -3 ('very negative effect') to +3 ('very positive effect'); Cronbach's α for the scale is 0.95.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
CBT Specific for BDD
n=21 Participants
CBT specific for BDD: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which is specific for BDD. A pilot study (Veale et al, 1996b) twelve years ago has demonstrated significant benefit of CBT over a waiting list. The mean reduction was about 50% on the primary outcome measure (YBOCS for BDD). This consisted of a reduction of 12 points and a standard deviation of 7 on the YBOCS for BDD and the treatment is now thought to be better than in 1996.
Non Specific CBT
n=25 Participants
Non specific CBT: CBT which is not specific for BDD (stress management and cognitive restructuring) which has been shown to be a credible alternative psychological treatment to CBT in health anxiety. However in two pilot cases of BDD, the benefits were minimal with a reduction of between zero and 10% on the YBOCS for BDD. At the most this equates to a maximum of 3 points reduction.
Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI)
12 week
-1.43 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.85
-2.04 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.71
Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI)
1 month
-1.29 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.92
-1.95 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.81

Adverse Events

CBT Specific for BDD

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Non Specific CBT

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. David Veale

Institute of Psychiatry

Phone: 0203 228 3461

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place