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A Study of Depression and Obsessionality in Dysmorphophobic and Psoriatic Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

G. E. Hardy
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Leeds
J. A. Cotterill
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, The General Infirmary at Leeds

Summary

Measures of depression and obsessionality were made in patients with dysmorphophobia, psoriasis and control subjects. The depression score distinguished all three groups. Patients with dysmorphophobia had significantly higher scores compared to the patients with psoriasis, who in turn had significantly higher scores compared to a control group. Patients with dysmorphophobia and psoriasis had equally elevated obsessional symptom scores compared to controls. It is unlikely, therefore, that dysmorphophobic symptoms are due to an obsessional state. Depression, however, was found to be an important clinical feature of dysmorphophobia.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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