ABSTRACT
Many body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) patients have never received adequate mirroring and attunement, thus the BDD psychotherapy group provides a supportive environment and serves as a corrective emotional family experience. The process of the group focuses on the interactions between group members rather than on their appearances, thus the main content of the group is about relationships. One group member with a borderline or narcissistic personality can abruptly dismantle a cohesive and functioning therapeutic support group. Borderline personality characteristics may rapidly emerge once the patient enters a group setting and their capacity to tolerate multiple interpersonal relationships deteriorates. The group may not be imperative for a patient's recovery, but it certainly can be a very beneficial addition to individual psychotherapy. Many BDD symptoms evolve within the context of negative interpersonal interactions, thus the group provides a secure environment in which healthy human connections are cultivated and in turn replace the pathological relationships that BDD patients have with their bodies.
