Perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety among population seeking cosmetic procedures.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19-related anxiety and preventative actions like the widespread shutdown of beauty-related services emerged as a stressful condition for BDD patients seeking expert opinions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional investigation to assess anxiety symptoms (by CDAS) and BDD (via BDD-YBOCS questionnaire) in patients referred to the esthetic clinic. RESULTS: A total of 120 individuals (106 females and 14 males; mean age: 45.53 ± 11.84) were evaluated. 13.3% of subjects were diagnosed with BDD; 79.2%, 17.5%, and 3.3% of them perceived none or mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of anxiety, respectively. CONCLUSION: Anxiety was not connected with BDD in our investigation. Further evaluation of other psychiatric disorders associated with anxiety and BDD was recommended.

Is Zoom Dysmorphia a new disorder?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: this editorial address the content of a recent letter about the main characteristic of Zoom dysmorphia phenomenon entitled "Zoom Dysmorphia: the rise of a new issue amidst the pandemic" that presents a compelling argument for conceptualizing this type of body dysmorphic disorder. METHODS: It is largely known that self-appraisal, self-worth, and self-esteem are essential resources for an individual in private life and social context; a misperception of one's own characteristic can influence behavior and modify some personality traits. In the present editorial it is examined the larger issue of the relationship with dysmorphic concern and appearance-focused behaviors together with the use of cosmetic interventions. RESULTS: The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic increased popularity of videoconferencing has seen a massive shift toward virtual living where individuals found themselves staring at their own video scrutinizing their appearance and potentially developing dysmorphic concerns. CONCLUSIONS: This editorial explores the conceivable similarity between obsession problems and addictions suggesting several insights for buffering the effects of stress promoting coping and (re-) appraisal strategies (www.actabiomedica.it).

COVID-19 pandemic, substance use disorders and body image issues, a worrisome correlation.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has profoundly affected the social fabric and the economic and health care viability and functioning of most countries. Aside from its deeply destructive impact on health care systems and national economies, the pandemic has jeopardized people's emotional and psychological well-being as well. The authors aimed to shed a light on how the pandemic has been affecting patients with addiction issues and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is characterized by negative thoughts about appearance and body misperceptions. People with body dysmorphic disorder are in fact at increased risk of developing substance use disorders, and such a destructive association has only been made more severe by pandemic-related restrictions, emotional distress and anxiety, as well as longer exposure to social media and online interactions. This is a major cause for concern, because substance use worsens symptoms of BDD and contributes to unfavorable treatment outcomes.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on social network sites use, body image disturbances and self-esteem among adolescent and young women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on social network sites (SNS) use and to explore whether SNS use is associated with body image disturbances and low self-esteem. METHODS: A total of 2601 women living in Spain aged 14-35 years completed questionnaire measures of SNS use, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. In the survey, participants were asked about their use of SNS at the moment of answering the survey and before lockdown. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase was found in the frequency of use of all studied SNS (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook) during lockdown, as well as in the number of women following appearance-focused Instagram accounts. Moreover, significant relationships were found between the frequency of Instagram use and body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and low self-esteem in the younger age group (14-24), and between the frequency of Instagram use and drive for thinness in the older age group (25-35). Following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram was related to body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in the younger group, and only to drive for thinness in the older group (25-35). Following appearance-focused accounts on Instagram and a higher frequency of use of Instagram significantly predicted higher levels of drive for thinness. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lockdown has had an impact on SNS use, and this might be linked to increased drive for thinness and eating disorder risk among adolescent and young women.