Effectiveness Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a serious mental health disorder that has recently increased in incidence and is co-diagnosed with problems such as suicide and depression. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has recently been frequently mentioned in the treatment of BDD. In this systematic review, it is aimed to examine the effectiveness of ACT in the treatment of BDD and to present a general clinical picture according to the results of the studies conducted in the relevant field. All studies in English language until June 2024 were systematically searched in Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases using the PRISMA guideline, and a total of 7 articles that met the research criteria were included in the study. The reviewed studies were conducted in four different countries (USA, Iran, Sweden, Australia) with a total of 155 people (134 women; 21 men) with different sessions (3 sessions-3 years). In conclusion, ACT techniques were found to reduce the negative symptoms of BDD and increase life satisfaction. Additionally, ACTs were found to be effective in gaining psychological flexibility, less self-stigmatisation, coping with suicidal thoughts, reducing symptoms of depression and body dissatisfaction. A number of recommendations for future researchers and clinicians are also given.