Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Hypnotherapy on Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Case Study

Objectives This study examined the effect of cognitive behavioral hypnotherapy on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), depression, and disability of patients.
Methods In this article, we present a single subject experimental design with multiple baselines. The subjects of the study were patients with BDD in Sanandaj city. Purposive sampling was used, and after obtaining diagnostic interview and qualifications of the study, subjects underwent the treatment process. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD-YBOCS), Beck Depression Inventory (DBI-II), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) and clinical interview were used as diagnostic tools. Cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy was employed for 15 sessions of one and a half hours and for two sessions per week. For data analysis, we used a single-case analysis using graphs and comparison of mean and median positions.
Results The results showed that participants’ scores in BDD, depression, and disability decreased noticeably. Treatment outcomes were continued up to four months of follow-up period as well.
Conclusion Cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapy is effective in improving BDD, depression, and disability of these patients.