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Chapter 11 - Being Versus Appearing: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

A Case Report

from Section 2 - Reaching the Extreme with Exercise: A Collection of Clinical Case Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2023

By
Artemisa Rocha Dores  and
Pedro Morgado
Edited by
Ornella Corazza  and
Artemisa Rocha Dores
Ornella Corazza
Affiliation:
University of Hertfordshire and University of Trento, Italy
Artemisa Rocha Dores
Affiliation:
Polytechnic Institute of Porto and University of Porto, Portugal
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Summary

We are living in an era in which appearance and body image can become the main focus of thoughts and behaviours, resulting in physical, psychological, and social suffering, about which patients, health professionals, and organizations may or may not have insight. This chapter presents the case of a 32-year-old man with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) who presented for a psychiatric consultation because he believed that his current psychotropic medication was preventing him from achieving his desired body shape. Exercise had become such an overwhelming preoccupation that it was having negative effects on the other areas of his life, and thus required intervention. Possible etiological and maintenance factors, in particular excessive and dysfunctional exercise behaviours (exercise addiction), were explored. Remission of symptoms only occurred after psychotherapy was included as part of the intervention, demonstrating the positive effects of a treatment plan that combines pharmacology with other therapeutic approaches.

Keywords

appearancebehavioural addictionsbody dysmorphic disorderbody imagecase studyexercise addictionperfect body
Type
Chapter
Information
The Body in the Mind
Exercise Addiction, Body Image and the Use of Enhancement Drugs
 , pp. 163 - 170
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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