BACKGROUND: Body image dissatisfaction is one of the most prominent psychopathological features of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and eating disorders (ED). These groups of disorders present similarities in psychopathological and epidemiological features and also in response to treatment. Although these disorders are included in the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, little is known about the comorbidity between the two groups of disorders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current bibliographic production on the comorbidity of BDD and ED. METHOD: A systematic review has been conducted on the PubMed and ISI Web of Science databases. RESULTS: Eight articles have been selected. These articles report that patients with ED may present comorbidity with BDD in 6% to 39% of the cases. 10% to 32.5% of the patients with BDD might present comorbidity with a TA. BDD preceded ED in the majority of the patients with comorbidity and patients with both disorders had more severe presentations than patients with either disorder alone. CONCLUSION: Recent studies have shown that comorbidity ratios between these disorders are high. However, BDD is seldom diagnosed in patients with ED, even when it is the most severe disorder.
Body dysmorphic disorder; eating disorders; obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders; comorbidity