Online Therapist-Guided Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: While internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy is garnering increased empirical support, and standalone mindfulness meditation interventions provide promise, the efficacy of online mindfulness-based CBT for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) remains unknown. This study demonstrates the first effort to determine whether online CBT-M for BDD is feasible and acceptable, and whether mindfulness meditation adds to CBT treatment effects for BDD. Methodology: In this 8-week pilot RCT, 28 adults were randomly allocated to an online CBT-M or online CBT-only group. Study retention, accrual, adherence, and self-report measures for BDD, depression, anxiety and pain were collected. Results: This study was feasible to implement and deemed acceptable. Significant improvements were found on all outcome measures for both groups, and large between-group effect sizes were found for BDD (d= -0.96), depression (d= -1.06), pain severity (d= -1.12), and pain interference (d= -1.28). Conclusion: Mindfulness meditation may add to beneficial online CBT treatment effects for BDD.