MAPrc leads world's largest research study in Body Dysmorphic Disorder

When people think of mental illness related to body image, the first thing that usually comes to mind is anorexia or associated eating disorders. However, it is the lesser known body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) that is five times more prevalent than anorexia and also causes higher levels of psychological impairment. In the largest neuroimaging research on this disorder in the world, Monash Alfred Psychiatry research centre's Doctor of Psychology candidate Ben Buchanan’s findings have been published this month in the prestigious journal Psychological Medicine.
Ben completed his thesis earlier in 2013 under the supervision of Professor Susan Rossell.
Links:

• 11 Dec 2013 Monash Faculty story
• B. G. Buchanan, S. L. Rossell, J. J. Maller, W. L. Toh, S. Brennan and D. J. Castle. Brain connectivity in body dysmorphic disorder compared with controls: a diffusion tensor imaging study. Psychological Medicine Vol 43 / Issue 12 / December 2013, pp 2513-2521. Published online 11 March 2013.
• Ben Buchanan, "Body dysmorphic disorder puts ugly in the brain of the beholder", The Conversation, June 2013
• Youtube video 8 Sep 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmuqZDiK3-8
• Follow Ben on Twitter: @ben_buchanan