Psychometric properties of the body dysmorphic disorder‐dimensional scale

Background: The Body Dysmorphic Disorder-Dimensional scale (BDD-D) is a new measure of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) symptoms. Developed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (fifth Edition) Obsessive–Compulsive and Related Disorders subworkgroup, the five-item scale aids in the dimensional assessment of BDD.

Methods: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the BDD-D in a community sample. A total of 266 participants completed the study.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the BDD-D demonstrates a unidimensional structure (Standardised Root Mean Square Residual = .03 and Comparative Fit Index = .99). The measure also showed strong internal consistency (α = .92) and good convergent validity with the Yale Brown Obsessive– Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. The BDD-D demonstrated good test–retest reliability (r_s = .86) in a subset of the original sample who completed the measure at two time-points (n = 46). Similarly, fair equivalence between online administration and pen-and-paper administration formats were also noted (r_s = .78) for a sample who completed the measure using two different administration formats (n = 29).

Conclusions: Overall, the BDD-D appears to be a brief, reliable measure of BDD symptomology.