Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Body-Image, Self-Concept, Maladaptive Schemas in Patients with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of schema therapy on body-image, self-concept, and maladaptive schemas in patients with body dysmorphic disorder. This is a quasi-experimental study, with pretest-posttest research plan and follow-up services. The research population comprised all patients with body dysmorphic disorder in Ahwaz city. The sample consisted of 10 people from this population having dysmorphic disorder whose selection was done randomly and when chosen, they were divided into two groups of experimental and control. Instruments used in this research are satisfaction with body-image questionnaire (Soutu and Garcia, 2002), self-concept questionnaire (Beck et al., 1990), body dysmorphic disorder questionnaire (Rabie et al., 1390) and the Young Schema Questionnaire (shortened form) (Schmidt, Joiner, Young and Telch, 1995; as quoted from Hamidpour, Dolatshahi, Poorshahbaz, Dadkhah, 1389). In this study, after the position of baseline, the intervention began and after 20 sessions of schema therapy for these participants was carried out, there was a follow up after the interval of one month. To analyze the data, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used. The results of data analysis showed that schema therapy leads to an increase in satisfaction with body-image, elevation of self-concept and reduction of body maladaptive schemata in the patients with deformity in the experimental group, compared to the control group.

Comparing the Efficacy of a Specialized Package for Women with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Schema Therapy on Perfectionism and Maladaptive Schemas in Women with Body Dysmorphic Disorder

“…Given that the specialized treatment package for women with BDD was designed and implemented for the first time in this research, there are no direct previous studies to compare these particular findings. However, these results can be indirectly aligned with studies confirming the positive effectiveness of schema therapy on the psychological status of individuals with BDD (Aghili & Hejazi, 2022;Farhadi et al, 2021;Kindynis et al, 2013;Mahmoudiyandastnaee et al, 2019;Montazeri et al, 2013;Morvaridi et al, 2019;Peeters et al, 2022;Pondehnezhadan & Fard, 2018;Simpson et al, 2010).…”

“…Since the specialized treatment package for women with BDD was designed and used for the first time in this research, there is no research available to directly compare the results of this part of the study with previous studies. However, this part of the results can be indirectly aligned with studies that have confirmed the positive effectiveness of schema therapy on the psychological status of individuals with BDD (Aghili & Hejazi, 2022;Farhadi et al, 2021;Kindynis et al, 2013;Mahmoudiyandastnaee et al, 2019;Montazeri et al, 2013;Morvaridi et al, 2019;Peeters et al, 2022;Pondehnezhadan & Fard, 2018;Simpson et al, 2010). This part of the findings also indirectly correlates with a series of studies that have confirmed the positive effectiveness of schema therapy on maladaptive schemas; Babazadeh (2019) reported that schema therapy affects maladaptive primary variables in the areas of rejection and abandonment, self-perception, limitation, and hypervigilance.…”

“…Research literature indicates that schemas of defect and shame create a predisposition to body dysmorphic disorder and chronic concerns about bodily deformity (Bailey et al, 2016). Given that body dysmorphic disorder is now a common disorder in the country (Ehsani et al, 2013), and the inclination towards cosmetic surgery among these individuals is very high, and Iran is one of the high-ranking countries in performing cosmetic surgeries in the world (Pondehnezhadan & Fard, 2018), considering exacerbating constructs (early maladaptive schemas) and their adverse consequences, it appears necessary to implement interventions aimed at Conclusion: Specialists are recommended to utilize both interventions to improve women with body dysmorphic disorder in terms of reducing negative perfectionism and rejection schemas, to use the specialized package for enhancing positive perfectionism, and to employ schema therapy for reducing autonomy schemas and impaired functioning and limits.…”

“…Researchers, in order to assist women struggling with body dysmorphic disorder, have suggested interventions such as narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (Pellizzer et al, 2018), mindfulness techniques (Aghili & Hejazi, 2022), body image modification training, and schema therapy (Dehbaneh & Bahrainian, 2018;Pondehnezhadan & Fard, 2018). Among these, schema therapy has received considerable attention, with empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness.…”

“…In this therapeutic approach, the goal is to identify negative schemas, behaviors, beliefs, coping methods, and unhealthy emotions arising from them, and then to strive to replace them with healthy thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors (Young, 2018). Research findings indicate the efficacy of schema therapy in improving early maladaptive schemas (Aghili & Hejazi, 2022;Mahmoudiyandastnaee et al, 2019;Simpson et al, 2010), perfectionism (Montazeri et al, 2013), and body dysmorphic disorder (Dehbaneh & Bahrainian, 2018;Pondehnezhadan & Fard, 2018).…”