A cross‐sectional study on gender differences in body dysmorphic concerns in patients with skin conditions in relation to sociodemographic, clinical and psychological variables
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, vol. 39, pp. 823–832
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dysmorphic concern is an overconcern with an imagined or slight defect in physical appearance that can be a symptom of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Appearance-related concerns are frequently reported by people with dermatological conditions. However, relatively little remains known about the relationship between dysmorphic concern and other variables within persons with different skin conditions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this multicentre, cross-sectional study was to investigate gender differences regarding dysmorphic concern and the prevalence of BDD in a large sample of patients with skin conditions, in relation to sociodemographic, clinical and psychological variables. METHODS: Participants aged ≥18 years with skin conditions were consecutively enrolled in dermatological clinics of 22 European centres. Dysmorphic concern and the possible presence of BDD were measured using the Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ) and compared between men and women in relation to sociodemographic, clinical and psychological variables, and separately for each skin condition. RESULTS: The DCQ questionnaire was completed by 5290 dermatological patients. In all categories, mean scores were significantly higher in women than in men. Mean DCQ scores were also higher in women for most skin conditions, with the highest effect size in vitiligo. The percentage of patients who screened positive for BDD on the DCQ was 10.5%, 7.7% of men and 12.7% of women. The prevalence of BDD positive was 6.9% in patients with mild clinical severity, 11.1% for moderate and 19.1% for severe condition. In the multivariate model in patients with mild skin condition, the presence of BDD was positively associated with stress and stigma both in men and in women. CONCLUSIONS: Dysmorphic concern and BDD were more frequent in women than in men with skin conditions. Both received and actual stigmatization might have an impact on body-related concerns, in particular in women, who may be more at risk for sociocultural reasons.
Authors 33
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Francesca Sampogna corresponding
Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
Affiliation as printed
Clinical Epidemiology Unit IDI‐IRCCS Rome Italy
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
Affiliation as printed
Clinical Epidemiology Unit IDI‐IRCCS Rome Italy
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
Affiliation as printed
Clinical Epidemiology Unit IDI‐IRCCS Rome Italy
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Psychology Justus‐Liebig‐University Gießen Gießen Germany
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Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Medical Psychology Justus‐Liebig‐University Gießen Gießen Germany
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Queen Mary University of London · Barts Health NHS Trust
Affiliation as printed
Barts Health NHS Trust & Queen Mary University London UK
Barts Health NHS Trust & Queen Mary University London UK
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine Cardiff University Cardiff UK
Institute of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen · Vitos
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology Justus‐Liebig‐ University Giessen and Vitos Klinik Giessen Germany
Department of Dermatology, Justus-Liebig- University Giessen and Vitos Klinik, Giessen, Germany
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Cardiff and Vale University Health Board · Cardiff University
Affiliation as printed
South Wales Clinical Psychology Programme, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, & School of Psychology Cardiff University Cardiff UK
South Wales Clinical Psychology Programme, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, & School of Psychology Cardiff University Cardiff UK
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Universidad de Zaragoza · Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet · Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón
Affiliation as printed
Miguel Servet University Hospital, IIS Aragón Universidad de Zaragoza Zaragoza Spain
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Stavanger University Hospital · University of Stavanger
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology Stavanger University Hospital Stavanger Norway
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Stavanger Norway
Department of Dermatology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Norway
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Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology Coimbra University Hospital Coimbra Portugal
Department of Dermatology, Coimbra University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal
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University of Copenhagen · Zealand University Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology Zealand University Hospital Roskilde Denmark
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Innlandet Hospital Trust · University of Inland Norway
Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Social and Health Sciences Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences Elverum Norway
Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders Innlandet Hospital Trust Brumunddal Norway
Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
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Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Brest
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology University Hospital of Brest Brest France
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Brest, Brest, France
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Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology University Hospital Miguel Servet, Aragon Psychodermatology Research Group (GAI+PD) Zaragoza Spain
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Miguel Servet, Aragon Psychodermatology Research Group (GAI+PD), Zaragoza, Spain
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University of Münster · University Hospital Münster
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology University Clinic Münster Münster Germany
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University of Münster · University Hospital Münster
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology University Clinic Münster Münster Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Psychology University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
Institute of Psychology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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University of Wrocław · Wroclaw Medical University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw Poland
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences Medical College of Rzeszow University Rzeszów Poland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology and Venereology Skåne University Hospital Malmo Sweden
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Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi · Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Affiliation as printed
Şişli Hamidiiye Etfal Research and Training Hospital, Department of Dermatology and Venereology University of Health Sciences Istanbul Turkey
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology Medical University of Graz Graz Austria
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
Affiliation as printed
School of Medicine, PHI University Clinic of Dermatology Skopje University St Cyril and Methodius Skopje North Macedonia
School of Medicine, PHI University Clinic of Dermatology Skopje, University St Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, North Macedonia
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Sechenov University · Mental Health Research Center of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences
Affiliation as printed
Department of Boundary Mental Conditions and Psychosomatic Disorders Mental Health Research Center Moscow Russia
Department of Psychiatry and Psychosomatics I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) Moscow Russia
Department of Boundary Mental Conditions and Psychosomatic Disorders, Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
Department of Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
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Lomonosov Moscow State University · Central State Medical Academy
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology Central State Medical Academy of Department of Presidential Affairs Moscow Russia
Medical Research and Educational Center Lomonosov Moscow State University Moscow Russia
Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Central State Medical Academy of Department of Presidential Affairs, Moscow, Russia
Medical Research and Educational Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology/Clinique Notre Dame de Grâce Gosselies Belgium
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Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center University of Amsterdam Amsterdam the Netherlands
Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychology University of Zaragoza Zaragoza Spain
Department of Psychology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands
Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands
Institute of Psychology, Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Sykehuset i Vestfold · Skåne University Hospital
Affiliation as printed
Department of Dermatology and Venereology Skåne University Hospital Malmo Sweden
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Vestfold Hospital Trust Tønsborg Norway
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