In this episode of Practice Matters, Rachel Handley is joined by Professor David Veale, consultant psychiatrist and cognitive behavioural therapist, to explore body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Together they unpack what BDD really is, how it differs from vanity, social anxiety, and OCD, and why so many people suffering with it end up seeking cosmetic solutions rather than psychological support.

David shares the CBT formulation for BDD and explains the key maintenance processes that keep people locked in distress: self-focused attention, comparing, ruminating, checking, and safety behaviours. He also discusses imagery rescripting, the challenges of engagement, and why targeting processes rather than the content of beliefs is so important in this work.

The episode also covers what effective therapy looks like in practice, who is most likely to benefit and why persistence matters, the current evidence base, and where David hopes future research will take the field.

Further resources:

Find out more about David's work and publications here

More information on BDD can be found via the BDD Foundation

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If you enjoyed this episode, check out our sister podcasts, Let's Talk About CBT and Let's Talk About CBT – Research Matters for more discussions on evidence-based therapy.

Credits: Music is Autumn Coffee by Bosnow from Uppbeat Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/bosnow/autumn-coffee License code: 3F32NRBYH67P5MIF This podcast was edited by Steph Curnow