Difficult Conversations About Beauty
Flawed Reflections: Understanding BDD
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a health condition where a person obsesses over one or more perceived flaws in their appearance. AHPRA, our governing body, has recently put new regulations in place for practitioners who perform cosmetic medicine. Starting July 1st, practitioners must follow specific guidelines for patient care, including referrals, consent, social media use, and more. While we're happy about these improved standards, there are some areas that need clarification. That's why we spoke with Dr. Toni Pikoos.
Toni is a therapist and psychologist who specialises in BDD and body image. We met at an Aesthetic Medicine conference in Melbourne last year, where I discussed ethical patient treatment and Toni talked about BDD. Toni was on AHPRA's advisory panel for these new regulations, and she shares her insights on how clinicians can meet the new regulations, how patients can stay safe and seek mental health treatment if necessary, and interesting information for all our listeners with an interest in psychology.
Screening tools. The BDDQ - DV screening tool currently in use is good but has its limitations. If you answer "NO" to question 1, "Are you worried about how you look?" the following questions are irrelevant and don't need an answer. Toni agrees that this questionnaire might miss subtle nuances in a patient's behaviour.
I use Leslie Fletcher's questionnaire with good effect in my clinical practice. It's called "Development of a multiphasic, cryptic screening protocol for body dysmorphic disorder in cosmetic dermatology" and it allows a grading system of assessment. While Toni endorses this tool, she's also creating her own and it will be available on her website https://www.readymind.com.au/ before July 1st.
Psychologists who specialise in body image disorders are prepared for our referrals, with communication ensuring awareness of the patient's progressions. Toni and her colleagues have put in place measures to ensure a timely turnaround, recognizing that patients and practitioners don't want to wait in limbo for appointments despite long waitlists for mental health assessments.
Can BDD be cured? Toni suggests that the way a patient presents can be influenced by their life circumstances. For instance, a person may feel aesthetically inferior due to input from someone else, which leads to BDD behaviours. Additionally, feeling a lack of control during a certain period can also contribute to BDD. However, with proper assistance, a person can overcome these challenges and cultivate a positive self-image.
The Future. Most practitioners will continue to do the right thing, but there will always be a small number who do not. They will neglect to provide proper assessments for those with body dysmorphic disorder, treat patients who are not safe to treat, and take advantage of vulnerable individuals for financial gain. These practitioners do not care and will not follow guidelines, potentially driving cosmetic medicine further underground and creating a black market. However, those of us who care for our patients will continue to uphold high standards of care and protect them. This is how we ensure the safety of our loved ones in the world of beauty - and for that, we thank you.
Links
Toni is holding a webinar on Wednesday 31st May for cosmetic practitioners. Here's the link to register. https://www.readymind.com.au/webinar-adapting-to-the-new-screening-guidelines-for-cosmetic-procedures/
Cosmetic practitioners - https://www.readymind.com.au/
All listeners interested in Toni's excellent body image empowerment content on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebddtherapist/
Anita’s Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/anitaeastauthor/
https://instagram.com/anitaeast_
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bXeZS4a9OOFZUVAw29Y7Q
https://anita-2022.medium.com/
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a health condition where a person obsesses over one or more perceived flaws in their appearance. AHPRA, our governing body, has recently put new regulations in place for practitioners who perform cosmetic medicine. Starting July 1st, practitioners must follow specific guidelines for patient care, including referrals, consent, social media use, and more. While we're happy about these improved standards, there are some areas that need clarification. That's why we spoke with Dr. Toni Pikoos.
Toni is a therapist and psychologist who specialises in BDD and body image. We met at an Aesthetic Medicine conference in Melbourne last year, where I discussed ethical patient treatment and Toni talked about BDD. Toni was on AHPRA's advisory panel for these new regulations, and she shares her insights on how clinicians can meet the new regulations, how patients can stay safe and seek mental health treatment if necessary, and interesting information for all our listeners with an interest in psychology.
Screening tools. The BDDQ - DV screening tool currently in use is good but has its limitations. If you answer "NO" to question 1, "Are you worried about how you look?" the following questions are irrelevant and don't need an answer. Toni agrees that this questionnaire might miss subtle nuances in a patient's behaviour.
I use Leslie Fletcher's questionnaire with good effect in my clinical practice. It's called "Development of a multiphasic, cryptic screening protocol for body dysmorphic disorder in cosmetic dermatology" and it allows a grading system of assessment. While Toni endorses this tool, she's also creating her own and it will be available on her website https://www.readymind.com.au/ before July 1st.
Psychologists who specialise in body image disorders are prepared for our referrals, with communication ensuring awareness of the patient's progressions. Toni and her colleagues have put in place measures to ensure a timely turnaround, recognizing that patients and practitioners don't want to wait in limbo for appointments despite long waitlists for mental health assessments.
Can BDD be cured? Toni suggests that the way a patient presents can be influenced by their life circumstances. For instance, a person may feel aesthetically inferior due to input from someone else, which leads to BDD behaviours. Additionally, feeling a lack of control during a certain period can also contribute to BDD. However, with proper assistance, a person can overcome these challenges and cultivate a positive self-image.
The Future. Most practitioners will continue to do the right thing, but there will always be a small number who do not. They will neglect to provide proper assessments for those with body dysmorphic disorder, treat patients who are not safe to treat, and take advantage of vulnerable individuals for financial gain. These practitioners do not care and will not follow guidelines, potentially driving cosmetic medicine further underground and creating a black market. However, those of us who care for our patients will continue to uphold high standards of care and protect them. This is how we ensure the safety of our loved ones in the world of beauty - and for that, we thank you.
Links
Toni is holding a webinar on Wednesday 31st May for cosmetic practitioners. Here's the link to register. https://www.readymind.com.au/webinar-adapting-to-the-new-screening-guidelines-for-cosmetic-procedures/
Cosmetic practitioners - https://www.readymind.com.au/
All listeners interested in Toni's excellent body image empowerment content on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thebddtherapist/
Anita’s Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/anitaeastauthor/
https://instagram.com/anitaeast_
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bXeZS4a9OOFZUVAw29Y7Q
https://anita-2022.medium.com/