Body Dysmorphic Disorder Program Opens at Rhode Island Hospital
(posted January 21, 2010)
Rhode Island Hospital is the new home of the internationally recognized body dysmorphic disorder program. Under the direction of Katharine Phillips, MD, the program moved to Rhode Island Hospital on January 4, 2010. Phillips will continue to serve as professor of psychiatry and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an under recognized psychiatric disorder characterized by excessive preoccupation with imagined or slight defects in physical appearance (for example, “scarred” skin, a “large” nose, or “thinning” hair). Those who suffer from BDD obsess over their appearance for an average of three to eight hours per day. They usually have excessive compulsive behaviors such as looking in the mirror or other reflective surfaces, excessive grooming, or skin picking. Some undergo repeated elective surgical or dermatologic procedures to try to correct their perceived flaws; such treatment appears to usually be ineffective for BDD. The disorder can be debilitating for some people, forcing them to avoid social contact, relationships and work, and can leave some individuals house-bound for years.
“Body dysmorphic disorder affects a relatively small percentage of the population, approximately 1 to 2.4 percent worldwide, but those affected often suffer from extraordinary fears and compulsions,” said Richard Goldberg, MD, psychiatrist-in-chief at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Phillips join us at Rhode Island Hospital, where she will treat patients from the state, region and around the world for this debilitating disorder, as well as launch and complete many clinical research trials.”
“As with any illness, the severity of BDD varies from patient to patient,” Phillips said. “It can range from milder to life-threatening. Some who suffer from BDD are unable to function in daily life. It is our goal to help these individuals with medication or therapy, and learn to manage their disorder so they can move forward and live life to their fullest potential.”
Phillips is currently the recipient of a number of research grants on body dysmorphic disorder, including several funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. She has received numerous honors and awards for her research, research mentoring, and other academic accomplishments, including a Special Presidential Commendation from the American Psychiatric Association for her research on body dysmorphic disorder. She is conducting research that includes pharmacotherapy studies of BDD and the development of effective psychotherapy for BDD.
She comes to Rhode Island Hospital from Butler Hospital, where she served as director of the body dysmorphic disorder program. She also served as associate medical director of ambulatory services and chief of outpatient services, both at Butler Hospital. Prior to
joining Butler, she served in various capacities at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA. Phillips is a noted author, having written books on body dysmorphic disorder and more than 230 scientific articles. She is chair of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) anxiety, obsessive-compulsive spectrum, post-traumatic, and dissociative disorders work group. She is also a sought-after speaker. She has repeatedly been included in Best Doctors in America.She is a member of many professional organizations, including the American College of Psychiatrists and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and she is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. She received her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, her medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School, and completed her residency in general psychiatry at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School.