Video Conferencing Dysmorphia: Assessment of Pandemic-Related Body Dysmorphia and Implications for the Post-lockdown Era.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to global effects on human interaction and mental health. The most drastic changes are seen in ways people continue to stay connected with each other. Video-conferencing applications like Zoom gained popularity and have become the primary means of communication for social or work events and meetings. These applications have also in many places replaced face-to-face healthcare visits and have penetrated school-based learning. The long-term implications of this digital technology on self-esteem and body image require further study. MAIN BODY: Video-conferencing applications have led to people being more conscious of their appearance and this has resulted in increased cases of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). There is increased focus on body appearance and cosmetic procedures to fix minor defects. Although the treatment for BDD is like depression, it requires the personalization of therapy specific to the needs of the patient. CONCLUSION: In this review, we aim to highlight the impact of the pandemic on body image and the long-term implications of virtual conferencing. The review also highlights available pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches in the management of body dysmorphic disorder related to virtual video conferencing.

Social Media Reinvented: Can Social Media Help Tackle the Post-Pandemic Mental Health Onslaught?

Social media plays an omnipresent role in our modern lives, influencing every aspect of it, mental health being one of them. There has been increased focus on social media in recent times, especially its role in the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. With various forms of social media, we hope to review the impact of various online platforms and emphasize their usage during the novel COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a universal feeling of consternation throughout the world, mainly as a consequence of social distancing norms and cancellations of schools and places of work, which has affected not only the livelihood but also the way of life of scores of people. Despite the negative press social media often receives in the field of mental health, there are opportunities to utilize its impact positively. This is not limited to connecting persons to mental health resources, spreading information about available COVID-19 treatment, and allowing social connection across the world. In this article, we review the renewed role that social media has had and future possibilities for its usage in the fight against the current pandemic.