Detección de trastorno dismórfico corporal en pacientes con acné: estudio piloto / Screening for Body Dysmorphic Disorders in Acne Patients: A Pilot Study

Introducción: El trastorno dismórfico corporal (TDC) es una enfermedad mental difícil de diagnosticar; puede causar una gran cantidad de sufrimiento, y el tratamiento a menudo es complejo y desafiante. Material y método: La población de estudio comprendía 81 pacientes ambulatorios dermatológicos consecutivos que cumplían los criterios de inclusión para la participación. Fueron tratados en hospitales en zonas urbanas (Zaragoza) y rurales (Alcañiz). Es un estudio piloto prospectivo y observacional. Se utilizaron como instrumentos de evaluación: a) La escala de gradación del acné de Cook y b) El Cuestionario de Trastorno Dismórfico Corporal (Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire, BDDQ) (traducción al español). Los posibles casos de TDC se identificaron mediante 2 criterios: 1) Un resultado positivo en el BDDQ (4 puntos positivos y una pregunta de exclusión negativa); y 2) Escala de gradación del acné de Cook que reflejó lesiones no perceptibles/leves (los criterios más estrictos) o lesiones moderadas (criterios menos estrictos) Resultados: El rango de edad de los pacientes era de 13 a 43 años. La edad promedio fue 19 con una desviación estándar de 6,2. De los 81 participantes, el 54,3% eran mujeres y el 45,7% eran hombres. El 61,7% vivía en el área rural cubierta por el hospital de Alcañiz y el 38,3% era del área urbana atendida por el Hospital Universitario de Zaragoza. Cuando se aplicaron criterios más restrictivos con respecto a la gravedad de la afección (solo los pacientes con acné leve), el proceso de detección de BDDQ resultó en una tasa de prevalencia de TDC del 8,6% (7 pacientes); si los criterios fueron menos restrictivos (incluidos los pacientes con lesiones moderadas), la tasa fue del 14,8% (12 pacientes). Discusión: Vale la pena recordar que los pacientes con TDC que participaron en este estudio pasan un promedio de 2 h al día pensando y preocupándose por su apariencia. Este hecho es un recordatorio de la importancia de diagnosticar y tratar correctamente el TDC ya que la afección claramente tiene un impacto serio y negativo en las vidas de los afectados

Introduction: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that is difficult to diagnose; it can cause a great deal of suffering, and treatment is often complex and challenging. Material and method: The study population comprised 81 consecutive dermatology out-patients who met the inclusion criteria for participation. Participants were treated at hospitals in both urban (Zaragoza) and rural areas (Alcañiz). The project was based on a prospective and observational pilot study. Assessment instruments used: Cook's Acne Grading Scale and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ) (Spanish translation). Possible cases of BDD were identified by means of 2 criteria: 1) A positive result in the BDDQ (4 positive points and a negative exclusion question); and, 2) A Cook's Acne Grading Score that reflected non-noticeable/mild lesions (the most stringent criteria) or moderate lesions (least stringent criteria). Results: The age range of the patients was from 13 to 43 years old. The average age was 19 with a standard deviation of 6.2. Of the 81 participants, 54.3% were women. 61.7% were seen in a rural hospital (Alcañiz Hospital) and 38.3% in an urban one (University Hospital of Zaragoza). When more restrictive criteria regarding the seriousness of the condition were applied (only patients with mild acne), the BDDQ screening resulted in a positive BDD prevalence rate of 8.6% (7 patients); if the criteria were less restrictive (including patients with moderate lesions), the rate was 14.8% (12 patients)

Screening for Body Dysmorphic Disorders in Acne Patients: A Pilot Study. / Detección de trastorno dismórfico corporal en pacientes con acné: estudio piloto.

INTRODUCTION: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that is difficult to diagnose; it can cause a great deal of suffering, and treatment is often complex and challenging. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study population comprised 81 consecutive dermatology out-patients who met the inclusion criteria for participation. Participants were treated at hospitals in both urban (Zaragoza) and rural areas (Alcañiz). The project was based on a prospective and observational pilot study. Assessment instruments used: Cook's Acne Grading Scale and Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ) (Spanish translation). Possible cases of BDD were identified by means of 2 criteria: 1) A positive result in the BDDQ (4 positive points and a negative exclusion question); and, 2) A Cook's Acne Grading Score that reflected non-noticeable/mild lesions (the most stringent criteria) or moderate lesions (least stringent criteria) RESULTS: The age range of the patients was from 13 to 43 years old. The average age was 19 with a standard deviation of 6.2. Of the 81 participants, 54.3% were women. 61.7% were seen in a rural hospital (Alcañiz Hospital) and 38.3% in an urban one (University Hospital of Zaragoza). When more restrictive criteria regarding the seriousness of the condition were applied (only patients with mild acne), the BDDQ screening resulted in a positive BDD prevalence rate of 8.6% (7 patients); if the criteria were less restrictive (including patients with moderate lesions), the rate was 14.8% (12 patients). DISCUSION: Patients who screened positive for BDD reported spending an average of 2hours a day thinking and worrying about their appearance. These results highlight the importance of screening for possible cases of BDD in order to follow up these patients and recommend they be seen by a mental health specialist to confirm the diagnose and offer treatment for the disorder. BDD has a serious and negative impact on the lives of those affected.