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Body dysmorphic disorder, social anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese medical students

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Abstract

Aim

This cross-sectional study explored the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction, body dysmorphic disorder, social anxiety and depressive symptoms in first-year medical students in China.

Methods

A self-report survey design was employed, using the Body Shape Questionnaire, Swansea Muscularity Attitudes Questionnaire, Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire, Self-Rating Depression Scale and the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire. A total of 487 first-year medical students participated.

Results

About one-third of participants (32.5%) indicated that they were very concerned about some aspect of their appearance unrelated to weight, with six female participants (1.3%) screening positive for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Those who displayed concern with their appearance (including those who did not screen positive for BDD) had higher levels of depressive and social anxiety symptoms than those who had no appearance concerns.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by the Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant Nos. 60433020, and the National Key Basic Research and Development Program (973), Grant No. 2007CB512301.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China

    Yanhui Liao, Jinsong Tang, Wei Hao, Xiaogang Chen & Tieqiao Liu

  2. St Vincent’s Mental Health, Melbourne and the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Natalie P. Knoesen, David J. Castle & Riteesh Bookun

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China

    Yunlong Deng

Authors
  1. Yanhui Liao
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  2. Natalie P. Knoesen
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  3. Yunlong Deng
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  4. Jinsong Tang
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  5. David J. Castle
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  6. Riteesh Bookun
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  7. Wei Hao
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  8. Xiaogang Chen
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  9. Tieqiao Liu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Natalie P. Knoesen or Tieqiao Liu.

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Liao, Y., Knoesen, N.P., Deng, Y. et al. Body dysmorphic disorder, social anxiety and depressive symptoms in Chinese medical students. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 45, 963–971 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0139-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0139-9

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