A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: Impact on core symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and executive functioning.
Ying-Qi Gu, Yi Zhu
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry December 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101869 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 116 |
| Population | Patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention with assessments at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Bdd Emotion dysregulation Executive functioning Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Key findings | Patients with BDD who received 8 weeks of MBCT showed greater improvement than treatment-as-usual controls on self-reported and clinician-rated BDD symptoms, self-reported emotion dysregulation, and self-reported executive function, while improvement on executive function tasks was only partially supported. The authors report feasibility and acceptability were positive and conclude MBCT may be a useful intervention for BDD. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is garnering increasing empirical interest as an intervention for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), although no studies of mindfulness as a standalone treatment have included a sample composed entirely of patients with BDD or a comparison group. The aim of this study was to investigate the improvement of MBCT intervention on the core symptoms, emotional dysfunction, and executive function of BDD patients, as well as the feasibility and acceptability of MBCT training. Patients with BDD were randomized into an 8-week MBCT group (n = 58) or treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group (n = 58) and were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Participants who received MBCT showed greater improvement on self-reported and clinician ratings of BDD symptoms, self-reported emotion dysregulation symptoms and executive function compared with TAU participants. Improvement for executive function tasks was partially supported. In addition, feasibility and acceptability of MBCT training were positive. There is no systematic assessment of the severity of key potential outcome variables associated with BDD. MBCT may be a useful intervention for patients with BDD, improving patients' BDD symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and executive functioning.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on emotion regulation/dysregulation in people with mental health conditions: A systematic review and meta‐analysis JCPP Advances February 12, 2026
- Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention During Hemodialysis on Trait Mindfulness, Cognitive Reappraisal, Expressive Suppression, and Quality of Life: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Holistic Nursing August 7, 2026
- Research progress on the role of mindfulness in intervention for adolescent obesity Frontiers in Endocrinology August 21, 2024
Cites 22
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- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
and 17 more in the library