Body Dysmorhpic DisorderNCT07521813
Psychiatric Disorders in Dermatiological Diseases
An observational study of Body Dysmorhpic Disorder, run by Sohag University.
Trial summary
The aim of this study: 1. Evaluate the presence of body dysmorphic disorder in children with dermatological diseases compared to healthy controls. 2. Assess the effect of these skin diseases on the quality of life in those children. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 18 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Body Dysmorhpic Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Questionnaire and Physical Exam
- How many people
- 500 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 1 Apr 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 to 18 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Study population: The study will include 250 patients with dermatological diseases and 250 age and sex matched healthy controls. From Dermatology outpatient clinics, Sohag University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine Sohag University.
Who may be able to join
- The study will include 250 children of both sexes aged from six up to less than 18 years presenting with various chronic skin diseases, diagnosed clinically, by dermoscopy and by biopsy if needed, and age and sex matched healthy controls.
- Ability of the child and caregiver to understand and respond to the questionnaires.
Who cannot join
- Children with diagnosed psychiatric disorders other than BDD (e.g., severe depression, autism spectrum disorder).
- Children with chronic systemic illness affecting body image or any other debilitating acute , chronic illness or surgical problems e.g.: short stature, hypothyroidism, osteochondral defects and obesity.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Children With Dermatological Diseases
The aim of this study:
- Evaluate the presence of body dysmorphic disorder in children with dermatological diseases compared to healthy controls.
- Assess the effect of these skin diseases on the quality of life in those children.
Read the detailed description
Skin diseases are the fourth leading cause of non-fatal disease in humans. Worldwide, between 30% and 70% of individuals are affected. Most dermatological conditions have an impact on patients' social, physical, and emotional well-being, as well as their friends, partners, and families.
The psychological impact of skin diseases is an issue of increasing concern worldwide but little research or exploration in this area has been undertaken.Pediatric psychodermatology is an emerging field that is uniquely tailored to the developmental, emotional, and psychosocial needs of children with psychocutaneous conditions.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition defined as a preoccupation with a perceived defect or flaw in one's physical appearance when, in fact, they appear normal. BDD falls under the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Often under recognized, BDD is a prevalent disorder characterized by an all-consuming focus on perceived physical imperfections, leading to distressing repetitive actions and, at times, suicidal behavior and ideation. Individuals with BDD often seek unnecessary surgical interventions.
The affected patients visit dermatology and plastic surgery clinics to repair their perceived defects. Understanding BDD's features and diagnostic criteria across all healthcare specialties helps increase awareness and recognition of the condition.
Body dysmorphic disorder is commonly first encountered by nonpsychiatric physicians. It is estimated to range from 0.7% to 2.4% in general clinics met diagnostic criteria for BDD, increasing to 9% to 12% in general dermatology clinics, 8% to 37% in cosmetic dermatology clinics, 2.9% to 53.6% in cosmetic surgery clinics and 14.1% among patients with chronic skin disease. These findings highlight the strong link between skin disorders and BDD, supporting the importance of studying this link specially in children and adolescents.
Most research on BDD focuses on adolescents and adults, however childhood- BDD remain underestimated because appearance concerns may be misinterpreted as normal developmental features. Children with early symptoms may hide their worries or struggle to express them, contributing to diagnostic delay.
Chronic pediatric dermatological diseases including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and acne vulgaris are associated with a significant psychological burden. Commonly reported psychiatric manifestations include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and impaired quality of life. More severe comorbidities such as ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, substance use, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation have also been described.
Screening for BDD by dermatologists is of paramount importance. Dermatologists should ask patients with minimal or non-existing defects about how much time each day they spend in thinking about their defects and how much such concerns cause distress or interfere with functioning. Patients who are concerned and preoccupied with perceived defects, spending at least one hour thinking about them and their concerns lead to functioning impairment or clinically significant distress should be considered for BDD diagnosis.
Given the emerging evidence linking skin diseases with body image disturbances in young populations , It is essential to investigate the prevalence, associated factors, and psychosocial impact of BDD among children with skin disorders. This supports the development of early screening programs and collaborative models between dermatology and child mental health services.Early recognition and intervention may significantly improve both psychological well-being and dermatological treatment outcomes in affected children.
- Conditions
- Body Dysmorhpic Disorder
- Being tested
- Questionnaire and Physical Exam
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Questionnaire and Physical ExamOther
The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ) :
The BDD-Q is a brief, validated self-administered questionnaire that is used to identify patients having symptoms of BDD. It uses close-ended questions and identifies if participants' concerns regarding appearance are a source of preoccupation.
It also identifies the grade of distress or interference with social and occupational functioning caused by these concerns . It has good validity, high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (89- 93%) for screening for BDD .
BDD diagnosis is likely if answers to question (1) (preoccupation) are yes to both parts, answers to question 3 (significant stress) include yes to any of the questions and answers to question (4) (time spent thinking about defect) include b or c choices.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Evaluation of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Children with Dermatological Diseases
Evaluate the presence of body dysmorphic disorder in children with dermatological diseases compared to healthy controls.
The study will include 250 children of both sexes aged from six to less than 18 years presented with various chronic skin diseases, diagnosed clinically , by dermoscopy and by biopsy if needed, and 250 age and sex matched healthy controls .
Assessment of the severity of the dermatological diseases according to available valid severity scores will be done .
Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire Dermatology Version will be done to identify symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder with valid standardized arabic version .
The body dysmorphic disorder questionnaire is a brief, validated questionnaire used to identify patients having symptoms of BDD. It uses close-ended questions and identifies if participants' concerns regarding appearance are a source of preoccupation and identifies the grade of distress or interference with social and occupational functioning .
Measured: From Apri 2026 to April 2027
Assess the effect of skin diseases on the quality of life of children
Assess the effect of skin diseases on the quality of life in children by using Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire (CDLQI) that used to evaluate the psychosocial impact of skin disease with valid standardized Arabic version .
The study will include 250 children of both sexes aged from six up to less than 18 years presenting with various chronic skin diseases, diagnosed clinically, by dermoscopy and by biopsy if needed, and 250 age and sex matched healthy controls then Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire (CDLQI) will be assessed with a valid standardized Arabic version .
The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) is a validated questionnaire to assess the impact of skin diseases on the quality of life of children. It evaluates the effect of dermatological conditions on physical symptoms, emotional well-being, daily activities, social interactions, school performance, and treatment.
Measured: From April 2026 to April 2027
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Body Dysmorhpic DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 500 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sohag University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Aya Abdelhaseeb Abdellatif, Sohag University
- Investigators
- Soha Hishmat Aboeldahab, Professor, Study director, Sohag University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07521813
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Soh-Med-26-3-14MS
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Publications
Arumugham SS, Narayanaswamy JC, Balachander S, Sharma E, Jaisoorya TS, Reddy SC, Siddiqui AM, Desouza A, Shah PS, Reddy YJ. Clinical practice guidelines for obsessive-compulsive disorder: 2025 update. Indian J Psychiatry. 2026 Jan;68(1):44-67. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_1259_25. Epub 2026 Jan 27.
PubMed 41694048Ruck C, Mataix-Cols D, Feusner JD, Shavitt RG, Veale D, Krebs G, Fernandez de la Cruz L. Body dysmorphic disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2024 Dec 5;10(1):92. doi: 10.1038/s41572-024-00577-z.
PubMed 39639018Sa B, Khalil N, Edwards E, Smith A, Franca K. Pediatric Psychodermatology: Advancing Therapy through Integrated Care. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2026 Mar;16(3):1455-1472. doi: 10.1007/s13555-026-01673-6. Epub 2026 Feb 16.
PubMed 41697633Salari N, Heidarian P, Hosseinian-Far A, Babajani F, Mohammadi M. Global Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Among Patients with Skin Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Prev (2022). 2024 Aug;45(4):611-649. doi: 10.1007/s10935-024-00784-0. Epub 2024 Jun 1.
PubMed 38822990
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Children With Dermatological Diseases
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07521813
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Soh-Med-26-3-14MS
- Conditions
- Body Dysmorhpic Disorder
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 500 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Sohag UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study:
- Evaluate the presence of body dysmorphic disorder in children with dermatological diseases compared to healthy controls.
- Assess the effect of these skin diseases on the quality of life in those children.
Detailed description
Skin diseases are the fourth leading cause of non-fatal disease in humans. Worldwide, between 30% and 70% of individuals are affected. Most dermatological conditions have an impact on patients' social, physical, and emotional well-being, as well as their friends, partners, and families.
The psychological impact of skin diseases is an issue of increasing concern worldwide but little research or exploration in this area has been undertaken.Pediatric psychodermatology is an emerging field that is uniquely tailored to the developmental, emotional, and psychosocial needs of children with psychocutaneous conditions.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric condition defined as a preoccupation with a perceived defect or flaw in one's physical appearance when, in fact, they appear normal. BDD falls under the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Often under recognized, BDD is a prevalent disorder characterized by an all-consuming focus on perceived physical imperfections, leading to distressing repetitive actions and, at times, suicidal behavior and ideation. Individuals with BDD often seek unnecessary surgical interventions.
The affected patients visit dermatology and plastic surgery clinics to repair their perceived defects. Understanding BDD's features and diagnostic criteria across all healthcare specialties helps increase awareness and recognition of the condition.
Body dysmorphic disorder is commonly first encountered by nonpsychiatric physicians. It is estimated to range from 0.7% to 2.4% in general clinics met diagnostic criteria for BDD, increasing to 9% to 12% in general dermatology clinics, 8% to 37% in cosmetic dermatology clinics, 2.9% to 53.6% in cosmetic surgery clinics and 14.1% among patients with chronic skin disease. These findings highlight the strong link between skin disorders and BDD, supporting the importance of studying this link specially in children and adolescents.
Most research on BDD focuses on adolescents and adults, however childhood- BDD remain underestimated because appearance concerns may be misinterpreted as normal developmental features. Children with early symptoms may hide their worries or struggle to express them, contributing to diagnostic delay.
Chronic pediatric dermatological diseases including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and acne vulgaris are associated with a significant psychological burden. Commonly reported psychiatric manifestations include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and impaired quality of life. More severe comorbidities such as ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, substance use, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation have also been described.
Screening for BDD by dermatologists is of paramount importance. Dermatologists should ask patients with minimal or non-existing defects about how much time each day they spend in thinking about their defects and how much such concerns cause distress or interfere with functioning. Patients who are concerned and preoccupied with perceived defects, spending at least one hour thinking about them and their concerns lead to functioning impairment or clinically significant distress should be considered for BDD diagnosis.
Given the emerging evidence linking skin diseases with body image disturbances in young populations , It is essential to investigate the prevalence, associated factors, and psychosocial impact of BDD among children with skin disorders. This supports the development of early screening programs and collaborative models between dermatology and child mental health services.Early recognition and intervention may significantly improve both psychological well-being and dermatological treatment outcomes in affected children.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
- Study population
- The study will include 250 patients with dermatological diseases and 250 age and sex matched healthy controls. From Dermatology outpatient clinics, Sohag University Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine Sohag University.
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- The study will include 250 children of both sexes aged from six up to less than 18 years presenting with various chronic skin diseases, diagnosed clinically, by dermoscopy and by biopsy if needed, and age and sex matched healthy controls.
- Ability of the child and caregiver to understand and respond to the questionnaires.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Children with diagnosed psychiatric disorders other than BDD (e.g., severe depression, autism spectrum disorder).
- Children with chronic systemic illness affecting body image or any other debilitating acute , chronic illness or surgical problems e.g.: short stature, hypothyroidism, osteochondral defects and obesity.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire and Physical ExamThe Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire (BDDQ) : The BDD-Q is a brief, validated self-administered questionnaire that is used to identify patients having symptoms of BDD. It uses close-ended questions and identifies if participants' concerns regarding appearance are a source of preoccupation. It also identifies the grade of distress or interference with social and occupational functioning caused by these concerns . It has good validity, high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (89- 93%) for screening for BDD . BDD diagnosis is likely if answers to question (1) (preoccupation) are yes to both parts, answers to question 3 (significant stress) include yes to any of the questions and answers to question (4) (time spent thinking about defect) include b or c choices. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
Evaluation of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Children with Dermatological Diseases
Time frame: From Apri 2026 to April 2027
Evaluate the presence of body dysmorphic disorder in children with dermatological diseases compared to healthy controls. The study will include 250 children of both sexes aged from six to less than 18 years presented with various chronic skin diseases, diagnosed clinically , by dermoscopy and by biopsy if needed, and 250 age and sex matched healthy controls . Assessment of the severity of the dermatological diseases according to available valid severity scores will be done . Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire Dermatology Version will be done to identify symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder with valid standardized arabic version . The body dysmorphic disorder questionnaire is a brief, validated questionnaire used to identify patients having symptoms of BDD. It uses close-ended questions and identifies if participants' concerns regarding appearance are a source of preoccupation and identifies the grade of distress or interference with social and occupational functioning .
Assess the effect of skin diseases on the quality of life of children
Time frame: From April 2026 to April 2027
Assess the effect of skin diseases on the quality of life in children by using Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire (CDLQI) that used to evaluate the psychosocial impact of skin disease with valid standardized Arabic version . The study will include 250 children of both sexes aged from six up to less than 18 years presenting with various chronic skin diseases, diagnosed clinically, by dermoscopy and by biopsy if needed, and 250 age and sex matched healthy controls then Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire (CDLQI) will be assessed with a valid standardized Arabic version . The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) is a validated questionnaire to assess the impact of skin diseases on the quality of life of children. It evaluates the effect of dermatological conditions on physical symptoms, emotional well-being, daily activities, social interactions, school performance, and treatment.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Apr 2026.
- Background: PubMed 41694048Arumugham SS, Narayanaswamy JC, Balachander S, Sharma E, Jaisoorya TS, Reddy SC, Siddiqui AM, Desouza A, Shah PS, Reddy YJ. Clinical practice guidelines for obsessive-compulsive disorder: 2025 update. Indian J Psychiatry. 2026 Jan;68(1):44-67. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_1259_25. Epub 2026 Jan 27.
- Background: PubMed 39639018Ruck C, Mataix-Cols D, Feusner JD, Shavitt RG, Veale D, Krebs G, Fernandez de la Cruz L. Body dysmorphic disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2024 Dec 5;10(1):92. doi: 10.1038/s41572-024-00577-z.
- Background: PubMed 41697633Sa B, Khalil N, Edwards E, Smith A, Franca K. Pediatric Psychodermatology: Advancing Therapy through Integrated Care. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2026 Mar;16(3):1455-1472. doi: 10.1007/s13555-026-01673-6. Epub 2026 Feb 16.
- Background: PubMed 38822990Salari N, Heidarian P, Hosseinian-Far A, Babajani F, Mohammadi M. Global Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Among Patients with Skin Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Prev (2022). 2024 Aug;45(4):611-649. doi: 10.1007/s10935-024-00784-0. Epub 2024 Jun 1.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
Related trials for Body Dysmorhpic Disorder
Not yet recruiting
Effectiveness of a Self-Guided Intervention for Body Dysmorphia and Positive Psychological Outcomes Among Adolescents
Body Dysmorhpic Disorder, Positive Psychology
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Soha Hishmat Aboeldahab, Professor study director
Sohag University
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Body Dysmorhpic Disorder, run by Sohag University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Aya Abdelhaseb Abdellatif, Resident doctor (00201142639444, aya.abdelhasseb@med.sohag.edu.eg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Evaluation of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Children with Dermatological Diseases (time frame: From Apri 2026 to April 2027). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07521813, which also lists 4 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Apr 2026.