Body parts of clinical concern in anorexia nervosa versus body dysmorphic disorder: a cross-diagnostic comparison

Objectives: Anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder share a hallmark clinical feature of severe body image disturbance. This study aimed to document major demographic and clinical characteristics in anorexia nervosa versus body dysmorphic disorder, and it was the first to compare specific body parts related to body image dissatisfaction across these disorders directly. Methods: Anorexia nervosa (n=26) and body dysmorphic disorder (n=24) patients were administered a range of clinical measures, including key questions about the specificities of their body image concerns. Results: Results revealed increased psychiatric and personality co-morbidities in anorexia nervosa relative to body dysmorphic disorder. The anorexia nervosa group was mostly preoccupied with three body zones typically linked to weight concerns, whereas the body dysmorphic disorder group fixated on facial features, hair and skin. Conclusions: These findings may help inform differential diagnosis in complex cases and aid in the formulation of targeted interventions.