CBT Effects on Neurophysiological and Psychological Outcomes in Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Summary

This clinical trial aims to investigate how a specific type of psychotherapy called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help people who experience Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). BDD is a mental health condition where individuals become excessively preoccupied with perceived flaws in their physical appearance-flaws that are often unnoticeable to others. This distress can interfere significantly with their social, emotional, and daily functioning.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether a 12-week CBT program can reduce symptoms of BDD and bring about measurable changes in brain activity, physiological stress responses, and patterns of visual attention when individuals view their own faces or appearance-related images. The researchers will use brainwave recordings (EEG), skin response sensors (GSR), and eye-tracking technology to assess these changes. In addition, participants will complete a set of questionnaires that measure depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, self-esteem, body image beliefs, and self-compassion.

Sixty individuals will take part in the study. Thirty will receive CBT sessions once a week for 12 weeks, while the other thirty will be placed on a waitlist and offered treatment later. The study will compare how symptoms and neurophysiological responses change before and after therapy, and whether these changes differ between those who received immediate treatment and those who did not.

The researchers hypothesize that CBT will reduce emotional distress, improve emotion regulation, and shift brain and body responses toward healthier patterns. This study will help identify how and why therapy works for BDD, and whether technologies like EEG and eye-tracking can be used to monitor treatment progress.

Conditions

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

A structured 12-week psychotherapy protocol targeting maladaptive appearance-related beliefs and behaviors in individuals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The intervention involves individual sessions once per week (60 minutes) and incorporates techniques such as psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure and response prevention (ERP), mindfulness, and attentional retraining.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University

  collaborator OTHER

• Beykoz University

  collaborator OTHER

• Istanbul Nisantasi University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Selami Varol Ülker, Phd · Üsküdar University

• Gökben Hızlı Sayar, Prof · Üsküdar University

• Eda Yılmazer, Phd · Beykoz University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-01

Primary Completion

2025-10-15

Completion

2025-11-25

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations