Welcome to the BDD Foundation ..

The BDD Foundation aims to increase awareness and understanding of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), taking the focus away from current stigmas that can perceive BDD as narcissistic, self-indulgent or purely a result of modern Western ideals. We also aim to dispel the belief of many people affected by BDD, that the disorder cannot be overcome.

Photography by Roger Askew & Ruth Ryan.

Request for Research Participation *NEW*

I would like to invite you to participate in my research focusing on the experience of adults living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If you are an adult with a formal diagnosis of either BDD or OCD, you can participate. Participation will entail a single 45- 90 minute interview either face to face or via telephone, which will be recorded and transcribed for analysis. All interviews will remain confidential, and the research material will only be shared with my supervisors at the University of Wolverhampton. All research material will be anonymized to protect the identity of participants. Participants can choose to withdraw at any time, at which point their material will be destroyed. The diagnosis confirmation as sought from my clinician will not impact on the standard of care I receive from my clinician.
This research study has been granted ethical approval through the University of Wolverhampton as part of my Doctorate studies in Counselling Psychology, and will be supervised by Dr. Nicki Hart (n.hart@wlv.ac.uk) and Dr. Neil Morris (n.g.morris@wlv.ac.uk) at the University.
If you would like to discuss this research and perhaps would consider participating, please send me an email.
Kind regards,
Lelanie Smook
Email: l.j.smook@wlv.ac.uk
DCounselling Psych candidate
University of Wolverhampton
School of Applied Sciences
Psychology Department
City Campus- South
Wulfruna Street
Wolverhampton
WV1 1LY

Louise's Story

Louise Duane-White is an artist and BDD sufferer who recently held an art exhbition of her work in Portsmouth. Very bravely, she also told her story to The News, a Portsmouth newspaper - you can read it here.

Series on Body Image Perception, Channel 4

Plum Pictures are making a new series for Channel 4 about body image perception and are interested in talking to people with BDD or whose perception and/or dissatisfaction with their appearance has affected their lives.

The series will use photographic imaging to create accurate, life size, 3D images of contributors, something like a hologram, that they will be able to walk around to see themselves as they really are. Having been confronted with their ‘real’ image, the people involved will be supported by psychologists, therapists and our presenter over several weeks. There will also be a makeover element to the show and we hope the process would help kick start the road to recovery.

If you’d like to find out more, with no obligation of being involved, please contact Rachel at Plum Pictures. Email: Rachel@plumpictures.co.uk. Tel: 0207 184 6783.

Appearance & Body Image Research

Researchers at the University of Western Sydney are currently seeking volunteers with a diagnosis of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) to participate in two studies currently being carried out.

The first study is an online investigation of BDD and emotional health and well-being. Anonymous participation only requires about 20 - 25 minutes of your time, and your responses will provide valuable information that will directly assist mental healthcare professionals working with BDD. If you would like to participate please follow this link to the online survey site. If you have any questions about the study or would like any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the principal researcher (James Collison) on 0417 531 492 or at j.collison@uws.edu.au

The second study is an open investigation of life with BDD. The principal researcher (James Collison) is a Sydney-based, registered psychologist and would very much like to talk to you about your experience of BDD. Participation would involve a one-to-one dialogue about BDD and can be carried out either online (e.g., through Skype or e-mail) or in person if you are an Australian resident. There are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers in this regard and there is no particular agenda - anyone who is currently experiencing BDD is invited to tell their story. The information you provide will directly assist professionals working with BDD and help to guide their understanding of what life with BDD is like. If you would like to participate please contact James Collison on 0417 531 492 or at j.collison@uws.edu.au
The link for the current survey is - http://qualtrasia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0IXl2AAYoGagOpK

Are you a young person (12 - 19 years old) with BDD?

Would you like treatment for your BDD?

Controlled trial of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for children and adolescents with BDD

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) as the first-choice treatment for adults with BDD. However, the evidence base for CBT in children and adolescents with BDD is currently limited to a few small studies.

We are developing and testing a new CBT intervention young people with BDD and their families. 

If you are a young person (aged 12-18) with diagnosed BDD, of if you suspect you may have BDD, and would like treatment for it, please read on.

If your child/teenager has BDD or you suspect she or he may have BDD, and you would like treatment, please read on.

You (or your child, or if you are a parent) will be assessed by an experienced team at the OCD & Related Disorders Clinic at the Maudsley Hospital (London) and, if we feel that the trial is suitable for you, we will offer treatment and follow-up for one year.

If you are interested in participating, your GP or local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) can refer you for an initial assessment. Give them this flyer and the attached referral form or give them the contact details below.

Visit our website www.ifeelugly.info to learn more about BDD and our treatment study!

For further information please contact Dr Jacinda Cadman or Benedetta Monzani
OCD Clinic for Young People, Michael Rutter Centre for Children, Maudsley Hospital, London SE5 8AZ
Email: Jacinda.Cadman@slam.nhs.uk / benedetta.monzani@kcl.ac.uk

Faces and comparing your appearance to other people

We are looking for male or female volunteers with a diagnosis of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), aged between 18 and 65. Participants should not have any other current significant psychological or psychiatric disorders or a history of these either.

The purpose of the study is to learn more about the thoughts and behaviours related to comparing appearances in people with and without BDD. People with BDD are preoccupied with and distressed by one or more aspects of their physical appearance. Like most if not all people, they often compare their appearance to others. We would like to learn more about these processes. We hope this research will inform treatments for BDD. The study is a student project being undertaken as part of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Taking part is not very time consuming and involves one meeting with the study Chief Investigator, Mr Mark Turner, at the Addiction Sciences Building, 4 Windsor Walk, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF. Travel expenses will be reimbursed. You will also receive £10 compensation for participating.

If you decide to take part, you will be asked to complete some questionnaires and to participate in a short experiment involving pictures of faces and rating scales about appearance. There will be questions about your current and past mental health and how you think and feel about your appearance and that of others. All information collected about you during the course of the research will be kept strictly confidential, and you will not be identifiable in any publications derived from the study.

If you are interested in participating, or would like further information, please contact the study Chief Investigator, Mr Mark Turner, by telephoning him on 07826 556 532 or email mark.turner@kcl.ac.uk .

Thank you.

New BDD website in French..

Superb new website for all French speaking BDD sufferers and carers, please take time to have a look: http://www.wix.com/pdcbdd/pdc

Write about your experiences

Abi Hutchings is a post-graduate student in Counselling Psychology and looking for participants to write a small, personal account of their experiences. The role of this research is to gain insight into the experiences of BDD, in particular with regards to experiences of sufferers during time of onset and treatment of the disorder.  If you have been diagnosed and treated for BDD and would be willing to write a few sentences about your experiences that would be extremely helpful to understanding how to work with it in the future.  Please note that you can write as much or as little as you want. You can contact Abi here

Assessing Visual Processing on BDD & OCD

The Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, is currently seeking individuals with OCD or BDD to participate in a research study on visual processing.

Participation involves completing a series of questionnaires and looking at pairs of images of faces and objects on a computer screen and assessing their similarities.

The study is being conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry, (Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF) and lasts approximately 2 hours.  You will be reimbursed £20 for your time at the end of the session.

NOTE: you must be 18 years old or older to participate and have a diagnosis of OCD or BDD.

If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Benedetta Monzani (email benedetta.monzani@kcl.ac.uk; tel. no. 020 7848 0659)

Too Ugly For Love Documentary

The BBC Documentary about BDD 'Too Ugly For Love' is now available from us online to download. If you are having problems downloading or would prefer the files on CD, please send a Stamped Addressed Envelope. Please email Stuart for address details. Postage costs for UK only : Large letter format - 1st Class 48p, 2nd Class 40p (international delivery costs vary).