ABSTRACT
In the cognitive-behavioral therapy establishment, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) was reputed to be the equivalent of "treatment refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder". There are BDD patients that can and do benefit from behavioral therapies, including exposure and response prevention therapy. BDD patients with better insight have more ability to do cognitive therapy and are more inclined, although still hesitant, to partake in behavioral therapy exercises. Exposure therapy exercises are intentionally designed to activate uncomfortable emotions. Exposure therapy with BDD patients is utilized for multiple reasons, the most obvious being to minimize the symptoms of the disorder. Interpersonal behavioral exposure exercises outside of the therapy office can be very valuable for several reasons. The majority of individuals with BDD engage in behaviors to camouflage the area of their appearance that they consider to be flawed. Mirrors and other reflective surfaces will always exist in our environment, thus it is important for the individual with BDD to relearn how and when to use mirrors.
