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The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Management of Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.

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Title: The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Management of Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.
Authors: Abdalla, Manal (AUTHOR), Mukhtar, Rayyan (AUTHOR), Elgamal, Salma E. (AUTHOR), Elshoeibi, Amgad M. (AUTHOR), Elsayed, Basel (AUTHOR), Chivese, Tawanda (AUTHOR), Khaled, Salma M. (AUTHOR)
Source: Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. Jan/Feb2026, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p1-16. 16p.
Subjects: Diagnosis of mental depression, Medical information storage & retrieval systems, Research funding, CINAHL database, Body dysmorphic disorder, Body image, Anxiety, Treatment effectiveness, Meta-analysis, Systematic reviews, MEDLINE, Quality of life, Medical databases, Cognitive therapy, Online information services, Activities of daily living, Psychology information storage & retrieval systems, Evaluation, Psychosocial factors
Abstract: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition characterised by intrusive thoughts of ugliness and deformity. The efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in treating BDD remains debatable despite results from several randomised controlled trials (RCTs). This study evaluated the current evidence on the efficacy of CBT compared to placebo or other interventions for treating BDD. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of RCTs. Following a database search, the quality effects (QE) model was used to synthesise standardised mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for outcomes including BDD symptoms, insight, depression, body image, anxiety, global functioning and quality of life. Stratified analyses were based on outcome scale, CBT delivery mode and modality, control group type and country. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and publication bias using funnel and Doi plots and the LFK (Luis Furuya‐Kanamori) index and the trim‐and‐fill analysis. Evidence quality was evaluated using the GRADE framework. The meta‐analysis included 19 RCTs (978 participants), demonstrating that CBT significantly improved BDD symptoms (SMD = −1.17, CI: −1.92, −0.43, I2 = 93.3%), body image (SMD = −1.90, CI: −4.22, −0.42, I2 = 97.2%) and global functioning (SMD = 0.63, CI: 0.28, 0.98, I2 = 65.0%). CBT showed non‐significant effects on insight (SMD = −0.93, CI: −2.09, 0.22, I2 = 96.7%), depression (SMD = −0.73, CI: −1.56, 0.10, I2 = 94.8%) and quality of life (SMD = 0.87, CI: −0.35, 2.09, I2 = 94.4%). In conclusion, CBT was efficacious in alleviating BDD symptoms, anxiety, body image concerns and improving global functioning. Face‐to‐face, online and non‐specialised CBT for BDD were also efficacious; however, further investigation is needed to explore the sources of the observed heterogeneity. Summary: This study demonstrates that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is efficacious in improving body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptoms, body image, anxiety concerns and improved global functioning.It may also help enhance insight, quality of life and depressive symptoms.Both online and in‐person CBT are efficacious, and specialised CBT for BDD may not be essential for symptom improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Management of Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abdalla%2C+Manal%22">Abdalla, Manal</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mukhtar%2C+Rayyan%22">Mukhtar, Rayyan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elgamal%2C+Salma E%2E%22">Elgamal, Salma E.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elshoeibi%2C+Amgad M%2E%22">Elshoeibi, Amgad M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elsayed%2C+Basel%22">Elsayed, Basel</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chivese%2C+Tawanda%22">Chivese, Tawanda</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Khaled%2C+Salma M%2E%22">Khaled, Salma M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Clinical+Psychology+%26+Psychotherapy%22">Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy</searchLink>. Jan/Feb2026, Vol. 33 Issue 1, p1-16. 16p.
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  Data: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition characterised by intrusive thoughts of ugliness and deformity. The efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in treating BDD remains debatable despite results from several randomised controlled trials (RCTs). This study evaluated the current evidence on the efficacy of CBT compared to placebo or other interventions for treating BDD. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of RCTs. Following a database search, the quality effects (QE) model was used to synthesise standardised mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for outcomes including BDD symptoms, insight, depression, body image, anxiety, global functioning and quality of life. Stratified analyses were based on outcome scale, CBT delivery mode and modality, control group type and country. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and publication bias using funnel and Doi plots and the LFK (Luis Furuya‐Kanamori) index and the trim‐and‐fill analysis. Evidence quality was evaluated using the GRADE framework. The meta‐analysis included 19 RCTs (978 participants), demonstrating that CBT significantly improved BDD symptoms (SMD = −1.17, CI: −1.92, −0.43, I2 = 93.3%), body image (SMD = −1.90, CI: −4.22, −0.42, I2 = 97.2%) and global functioning (SMD = 0.63, CI: 0.28, 0.98, I2 = 65.0%). CBT showed non‐significant effects on insight (SMD = −0.93, CI: −2.09, 0.22, I2 = 96.7%), depression (SMD = −0.73, CI: −1.56, 0.10, I2 = 94.8%) and quality of life (SMD = 0.87, CI: −0.35, 2.09, I2 = 94.4%). In conclusion, CBT was efficacious in alleviating BDD symptoms, anxiety, body image concerns and improving global functioning. Face‐to‐face, online and non‐specialised CBT for BDD were also efficacious; however, further investigation is needed to explore the sources of the observed heterogeneity. Summary: This study demonstrates that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is efficacious in improving body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptoms, body image, anxiety concerns and improved global functioning.It may also help enhance insight, quality of life and depressive symptoms.Both online and in‐person CBT are efficacious, and specialised CBT for BDD may not be essential for symptom improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/cpp.70218
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Medical information storage & retrieval systems
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      – SubjectFull: Research funding
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      – SubjectFull: CINAHL database
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Body dysmorphic disorder
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      – SubjectFull: Body image
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      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
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      – SubjectFull: Treatment effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Meta-analysis
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              Text: Jan/Feb2026
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