Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Researchers are conducting the GENESIS clinical study to map the HLA genomic region in the Greek population and explore its possible links with various underlying diseases. This non-interventional, multicenter study aims to provide a pilot map of genetic variation in HLA that may be useful in medical research and clinical applications related to selected diseases. The study plans to include 12,000 participants over a total duration of 36 months. Each participant will attend one visit at a participating site during which they will provide demographic data, lifestyle information such as smoking and alcohol use, blood pressure measurements, details on diagnosed diseases and treatments, and recent laboratory test results if available. Buccal swab samples will be collected from each participant to extract DNA for HLA genotyping analysis. Selected samples will undergo further whole genome sequencing to investigate associations with autoimmune diseases. Participants will receive a personalized ancestry report after analysis completion. During the study visit, data collection includes demographic and health information, as well as laboratory and clinical test results from the past year. The genetic material from buccal swabs will be stored and processed for genetic analysis. Researchers will measure allele frequency of HLA alleles in the Greek population and assess the prevalence and risk associations of selected HLA-related diseases. The study's total duration is 36 months with results available at the end of this period.

Researchers are evaluating a mentalization-based parenting program called the Lighthouse MBT Parenting Program for parents with various mental disorders who are receiving adult mental health services. This trial compares this program to the usual care provided to these parents. The goal is to study both the short- and long-term effects of this intervention on parenting stress and related outcomes, addressing the high need for evidence-based support for parents with mental health conditions and their children. The study involves two groups: one receives the Lighthouse MBT Parenting Program, which includes a preparatory individual session followed by twelve weekly group sessions of two hours each. The other group receives care as usual, consisting of one or two sessions with family members, commonly offered in adult mental health services. Both interventions are provided alongside the participants' regular outpatient treatment. Participants will be assessed at the start of the study and again at 6, 12, and 24 months after starting the program. The research team will measure parenting stress using a standardized index and evaluate other factors such as children's psychological adjustment, family functioning, quality of life, parenting competence, and the severity of psychiatric symptoms. The study includes careful follow-up to monitor these outcomes over two years.

Researchers are evaluating a single-session, online, parent-focused intervention aimed at preventing body image concerns and disordered eating in young children aged 2 to 6 years. This study addresses the early recognition of societal appearance ideals by children and the role of parents in shaping their children's exposure to these ideals. The study focuses on reducing predictors of body image disturbance, which are linked to serious mental health issues including eating disorders that have significant psychological and physical impacts. The intervention consists of a modular workshop delivered online to parents, covering four key areas: Body Image Development and Body Talk, Food Talk, Picky Eating and Mealtime Conversations, and Media Usage and Social Comparison. Each module lasts about 10 minutes. In the study, 50 parents will receive the full intervention while another 50 parents in the control group will not receive any intervention but will complete knowledge checks. The study aims to test the acceptability and feasibility of this approach. Participants will complete the intervention modules and then provide feedback on their experience, including which module they found most useful, along with knowledge assessments. Researchers will monitor acceptability immediately after the intervention and track recruitment, retention, and data completeness over approximately one year. The study will also evaluate the initial effectiveness of the intervention directly after completion. Participation involves completing online modules and questionnaires during the study period.

Researchers are evaluating an adapted version of the Helping Ovarian Cancer Patients Cope (HOPE) intervention called HOPE-C, designed to address burnout among gynecologic oncology clinicians. Burnout in these clinicians can negatively impact mental health, professional performance, patient outcomes, and healthcare systems. The original HOPE intervention promotes hope in ovarian cancer patients through positive narratives; HOPE-C tailors these concepts to clinicians by fostering peer support and helping them reframe challenging experiences. The study involves three main objectives. First, clinicians review HOPE-C materials and provide feedback through interviews and questionnaires to help develop the intervention. Next, in a pilot trial, clinicians attend four weekly HOPE-C sessions, each lasting about 30 to 45 minutes, focusing on changing narratives, managing uncertainty, and finding meaning. Before and after these sessions, clinicians complete questionnaires. Finally, clinicians may participate in interviews after completing HOPE-C to further optimize and evaluate the intervention. Participants will be involved in reviewing materials, attending sessions, and completing questionnaires and interviews. Researchers will assess feasibility by tracking accrual rates, intervention completion, and survey completion. They will also measure acceptability, satisfaction, and delivery of the intervention. Data collection occurs at enrollment, during the four-week intervention, and up to two weeks post-intervention. The trial is sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and includes clinicians working with ovarian cancer patients.

This research aims to evaluate a digital chatbot program designed to prevent eating disorders in a diverse group of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years. Eating disorders affect youth at high rates and often come with other mental health challenges. Since adolescence is a crucial time for developing eating disorders, this study focuses on prevention, especially among underserved groups such as low-income populations, sexual and gender minorities, racial or ethnic minorities, and those in rural areas who have less access to care. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive immediate access to a digital chatbot program called Wysa or to a waitlist control group. The chatbot offers five cognitive-behavioral therapy-based modules over three months, including psychoeducation and exercises on regular eating and improving body image. The waitlist group will receive access to the chatbot after completing the six-month study period. Throughout the study, participants will engage with the chatbot daily and be monitored over six months. Researchers will assess eating disorder risk factors using the Weight Concerns Scale at six months to measure the program's impact. Participants will also complete screening to ensure they are at risk but not currently in treatment for an eating disorder. The study is sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine and aims to improve access to prevention services for adolescents.

This research aims to improve neuropsychological diagnostics by developing, calibrating, and evaluating new clinical and forensic neuropsychological tests. These tests focus on both instrumental and non-instrumental functions and are being studied in neurologically healthy individuals representing the Italian population, as well as in patients with various neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. The goal is to modernize and expand diagnostic tools to meet clinical and forensic needs, including remote testing and assessments of testamentary capacity. Participants include people with brain disorders and neurologically healthy controls. The study involves cognitive and behavioral tests and questionnaires designed to assess various mental functions. These tests will be administered at baseline, then repeated after one month for healthy participants, and at 6, 12, and 18 months for those with neurodegenerative disorders to evaluate changes over time. Throughout the study, participants will undergo multiple assessments including tests like the Brief Assessment of Social Skills-Dementia, Picture Interpretation Test, and Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status among others. These evaluations are done at enrollment and at scheduled intervals to monitor cognitive and behavioral changes. The study will track outcomes to understand test reliability and clinical usefulness over an extended period, with participation lasting up to 18 months for some individuals.

Researchers are evaluating a song intervention designed to improve body appreciation among UK children aged 4 to 6 years. This study aims to determine if children can understand a body confidence message delivered through an audio-only song without visual aids, and whether listening to this song improves their body appreciation compared to an active control song. The trial builds on previous work that showed a music video version of the song helped protect children's body appreciation. The study randomly assigns approximately 200 children from Reception and Year 1 classes to one of two groups: one listens to the body confidence song "My Body is Amazing," which highlights body functionality and the five senses, and the other listens to an active control song "Brush your Teeth," focused on dental hygiene. Each child completes baseline assessments, listens to their assigned song, completes post-intervention measures, and then listens to the other song to reduce contamination. Participants take part in one-on-one structured interviews at school involving play-based questions to assess body appreciation, song comprehension, and acceptability immediately before and after the song exposure. The main outcome is the change in body appreciation measured by two specially designed items. Researchers also explore whether effects differ by gender, school year, or comprehension. The study includes careful statistical analysis and plans for handling missing data, with overall participation lasting a single session.

Researchers are studying a new online, single-session program called Body Acceptance After Baby (BABI) to see if it can help new mothers cope with body dissatisfaction after giving birth. This study compares BABI to another active program, which is a short infographic providing education about body image during postpartum, and to a waitlist group that receives no intervention initially. The goal is to understand if these interventions improve how new moms feel about their bodies. The BABI program includes six parts: education about postpartum body image and acceptance, a cognitive skill activity called "unhooking," a values clarification exercise, a peer advice activity responding to struggles other new moms face, and creating a personal action plan. This session takes about 30 minutes to complete. The second intervention is an infographic that takes about 2 minutes to read and offers information about body image and challenges of "bounce-back" culture after childbirth. The waitlist group will get access to both programs after follow-up periods. Participants will be assessed at the start of the study, then again after 1 month and 3 months to measure postpartum body image, body appreciation, psychological flexibility, depression, eating disorder symptoms, intuitive eating, and self-efficacy related to breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. Initial measures also include mood and hopelessness. The study is randomized with single blinding and is sponsored by Northeastern University. The total participation time varies based on follow-up assessments up to 3 months.

Researchers are studying the changes in body image and physical activity among Hungarian women treated for breast cancer. This observational trial aims to understand how body image varies during different treatments and assess physical activity levels in this group. The study also evaluates how these factors affect quality of life using the Body Image After Breast Cancer questionnaire validated for Hungarian participants. Participants are adult women previously diagnosed with breast carcinoma. The study gathers information through questionnaires designed to measure body image and physical activity over recent periods, including the Body Image After Breast Cancer questionnaire and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Secondary assessments include mental health and quality of life scales, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and cancer-specific quality of life questionnaires. During the trial, participants will complete various questionnaires over days to weeks, providing subjective data on their body image, physical activity, self-esteem, and quality of life. Researchers will analyze these responses to better understand effects of breast cancer treatment on these aspects. The study will follow participants from September 2024 to August 2025, with ongoing data collection and analysis.

This research aims to understand how gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) affects the brains of transgender adults. The study will investigate changes in cerebral blood flow, brain structure, connectivity, and cognitive functions such as memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed. Researchers will compare these brain changes in transgender males and females over the first few months after starting GAHT. Participants will undergo two main sets of evaluations: one before beginning GAHT and another 4 to 6 months after continuous hormone therapy. These evaluations include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess brain structure and function, cognitive and health tests to measure body composition and neurocognitive performance, and an optional graded exercise test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness. During the study, participants will have MRI scans involving structural brain imaging and scans during cognitive tasks and acute stress response. They will complete cognitive tasks using the NIH Toolbox and have body composition scans. Optional exercise testing may be performed. Researchers will monitor changes in brain blood flow, structure, connectivity, and various cognitive tests over the study period, with the entire observation lasting up to 6 months after starting GAHT.