CBT for Muscle Dysmorphia and Steroid Abuse: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating muscle dysmorphia (MD) under body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and steroid/performance-enhancing drug (PED) abuse in men aged 18-65 who regularly attend the gym. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does CBT reduce the symptoms of muscle dysmorphia in this population? Does CBT improve psychological well-being and reduce reliance on steroids or PEDs? Researchers will compare participants receiving CBT to a control group that does not receive any intervention to determine the therapy's effectiveness.

Participants will:

Undergo a formal diagnosis of muscle dysmorphia (Under BDD) and steroid/PED abuse based on DSM-5-TR criteria through online clinical interviews.

Complete 12 weekly one-on-one online CBT sessions (50 minutes each) for those in the experimental group.

Complete psychological assessments at three time points: before the intervention, after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up.

This study uses validated scales to measure changes in symptoms of MD, psychological distress, and other related outcomes. The results will help determine if CBT is an effective treatment for muscle dysmorphia and associated steroid/PED abuse.

Conditions

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• Steroid Abuse
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Subtype: Muscle Dysmorphia

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The intervention consists of 12 weekly one-on-one online CBT sessions, each lasting 50 minutes, delivered via Microsoft Teams. The sessions will focus on addressing symptoms of muscle dysmorphia (MD), maladaptive thought patterns, and behaviors associated with steroid and performance-enhancing drug (PED) use. The therapy is based on structured CBT techniques and will include psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments, and relapse prevention strategies. The sessions will be conducted by trained clinical psychology master's students under the supervision of experienced clinical psychologists and a psychiatrist. The intervention is designed to reduce MD symptoms and improve psychological well-being.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beykoz University

  collaborator OTHER

• Istanbul Nisantasi University

  collaborator OTHER

• Uskudar University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Selami Varol Ülker, Phd · Üsküdar University

• Metin Çınaroğlu, Phd · Istanbul Nisantasi University

• Eda Yılmazer, Phd · Beykoz University

• Gokben Hızlı Sayar, Professor · Üsküdar University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-09-01

Primary Completion

2025-04-15

Completion

2025-06-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations