Comprehensive Psychiatry
Volume 49, Issue 4 , Pages 374-379, July 2008

Symptom characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity among males with muscle dysmorphia

  • Guy Cafri

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of South Florida. Tampa, FL 33620-8200, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 813 974 0367; fax: +1 813 974 4617.
    • ,
  • Roberto Olivardia

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115-6092, USA
    • ,
  • J. Kevin Thompson

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, University of South Florida. Tampa, FL 33620-8200, USA

published online 20 March 2008.

Abstract 

Objective

Muscle dysmorphia has been described as a disorder in which individuals are pathologically preoccupied with their muscularity. This study was designed to further investigate the symptom characteristics and psychiatric conditions associated with the disorder.

Method

Weight lifting males meeting current criteria for muscle dysmorphia (n = 15), past muscle dysmorphia (n = 8), and no history of muscle dysmorphia (n = 28) responded to advertisements placed in gymnasium and nutrition stores. Structured and semistructured interviews were administered, as well as survey measures.

Results

Relative to controls, males with current muscle dysmorphia experienced more aversive symptoms related to the appearance of their bodies, including more often thinking about their muscularity, dissatisfaction with appearance, appearance checking, bodybuilding dependence, and functional impairment. Higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders were found among individuals with a history of muscle dysmorphia relative to individuals with no history of muscle dysmorphia.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that muscle dysmorphia can be distinguished from normal weight lifting on a number of clinical dimensions. Muscle dysmorphia appears to be comorbid with other psychiatric conditions. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are considered.

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 This study was funded in part by an internal award from the University of South Florida (Tampa, Fla) (JK Thompson).

PII: S0010-440X(08)00009-6

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2008.01.003

Comprehensive Psychiatry
Volume 49, Issue 4 , Pages 374-379, July 2008

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