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A twin study of body dysmorphic concerns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 November 2011

B. Monzani ,
F. Rijsdijk ,
M. Anson ,
A. C. Iervolino ,
L. Cherkas ,
T. Spector  and
D. Mataix-Cols
B. Monzani*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
F. Rijsdijk
Affiliation:
Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre (SDGP), Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
M. Anson
Affiliation:
The Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma, South London and Mausdley NHS Trust, London, UK
A. C. Iervolino
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
L. Cherkas
Affiliation:
Deparment of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London School of Medicine, UK
T. Spector
Affiliation:
Deparment of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London School of Medicine, UK
D. Mataix-Cols
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: B. Monzani, Department of Psychosis Studies, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, PO 69, De Crespigny Park Rd., London SE5 8AF, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Dysmorphic concern refers to an excessive preoccupation with a perceived or slight defect in physical appearance. It lies on a continuum of severity from no or minimal concerns to severe concerns over one's appearance. The present study examined the heritability of dysmorphic concerns in a large sample of twins.

Method

Twins from the St Thomas UK twin registry completed a valid and reliable self-report measure of dysmorphic concerns, which also includes questions about perceived body odour and malfunction. Twin modelling methods (female twins only, n=3544) were employed to decompose the variance in the liability to dysmorphic concerns into additive genetic, shared and non-shared environmental factors.

Results

Model-fitting analyses showed that genetic factors accounted for approximately 44% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 36–50%] of the variance in dysmorphic concerns, with non-shared environmental factors and measurement error accounting for the remaining variance (56%; 95% CI 50–63%). Shared environmental factors were negligible. The results remained unchanged when excluding individuals reporting an objective medical condition/injury accounting for their concern in physical appearance.

Conclusions

Over-concern with a perceived or slight defect in physical appearance is a heritable trait, with non-shared environmental factors also playing an important role in its causation. The results are relevant for various psychiatric disorders characterized by excessive concerns in body appearance, odour or function, including but not limited to body dysmorphic disorder.

Keywords

Body dysmorphic disorderdysmorphic concerneating disordersheritabilityOlfactory Reference Syndrometwins
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 42 , Issue 9 , September 2012 , pp. 1949 - 1955
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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