Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in combination with symptoms provocation: An effective treatment in patients with treatment-resistant Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) involves an excessive preoccupation with a perceived physical flaw, leading to impaired functioning. There is currently no FDA-approved treatment for BDD, and many patients do not respond to standard therapies. Neuromodulation, particularly deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS), emerges as a significant option for treating resistant patients within the obsessive-compulsive spectrum.

While no prior studies have explored the use of dTMS in BDD, this case series presents three patients with treatment-resistant BDD who underwent dTMS in combination with symptom provocation, a cognitive-behavioral therapy technique. The severity of symptoms decreased in all three patients following the treatment.

These initial findings suggest that dTMS combined with symptom provocation could be an effective approach for individuals with treatment-resistant BDD. However, further prospective studies are required to validate these observations.