Commentary on “‘Zoom Dysmorphia?’ Language and Body Dysmorphic Disorder in the Age of Social Media.”

Abstract

processing in which the brain overfocuses on details and has difficulty processing holistic visual information. Put more simply, people with BDD cannot see the forest for the trees. Such deficits are independent of technology-driven distortions (See Supplemental Digital Content 1, Reference 7, http://links. lww.com/DSS/B265).Addressing patients who identify as having "Zoom dysmorphia" depends on the definition of the term. If terms such as "Zoom dysmorphia" are meant to reflect the disorder BDD, there are many published studies on how to approach and treat these patients. Effective treatment includes serotoninreuptake inhibitors (SRIs and SSRIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy tailored specifically to BDD (See Supplemental Digital Content 1, Reference 8, http://links.lww.com/DSS/B265). If the aforementioned terms reflect heightened appearance concerns that do not cause clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning, then treatment is likely not needed. Rather, dermatologists and other providers of aesthetic consultations can remind candidates of various factors influencing their selfimage, including the distorting effects of webcams as well as the potential pitfalls of self-comparison with manipulated imagery.We are grateful to our colleagues and the popular media for bringing attention to BDD and society's appearance-related concerns. However, we urge caution when advancing novel nomenclature-such as the various "dysmorphias"-with no agreed-upon definition. We also urge caution when considering the relationship between social media utilization and BDD. To the best of our knowledge, only one small cross-sectional study has examined BDD's relationship to image-centric social media use. 1 Such a study suggests an association between the two-but not causation. Although social media overuse may be a risk factor for the development of BDD, currently, the association is speculative. We need evidence before positing a relationship between social media use and BDD.