11/06/2026
Alisa is working on the connection between Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Idiopathic Scoliosis. Here’s an excerpt!
Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Individuals with Idiopathic Scoliosis
Walton, A
9 June 2026
Author Disclosure
The author serves as Programme Director for ILAB at The Institute for Spine and Scoliosis (New Jersey) and has professional experience working with adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Idiopathic Scoliosis. This proposal was developed from observations made in clinical practice and from gaps identified in the existing literature. No funding was received for this research proposal.
Introduction
Epidemiological data suggest that between 1.7% and 2.8% of the global population meets diagnostic criteria for BDD (Veale et al.). While this percentage may appear globally modest, its implications may be amplified in populations already vulnerable to body image concerns, such as individuals with Idiopathic Scoliosis. The visible physical characteristics associated with scoliosis—rib humps, spinal curvature, and asymmetry—can act as focal points for perceptual distortion.
The author has conducted an informal analysis of patients in a 110 patient sample, and identified that 2.35 percent of her patients present with symptoms of BDD, notably all were male. The global ratio in BDD is 1:1 male to female. Payne et al. found that even individuals with mild scoliosis may fixate on perceived deformities to the extent it negatively impacts emotional well-being. The psychosocial burden of scoliosis is not always proportional to the severity of the physical condition. Some patients at The Institute for Spine and Scoliosis present with hypervigilance around their physical appearance, even if the degree of curvature is below approximately 30 degrees.
The distinction between a normal emotional response and a diagnosable disorder is central to this proposal. While individuals with visible physical differences may experience some degree of distress or self-consciousness, when this concern becomes obsessive, intrusive, and functionally impairing, it moves toward a clinical pathology. Singh and Veale argue that in individuals with BDD, reassurance or corrective procedures rarely alleviate distress, as the issue lies not in the body itself but in distorted perception. This distinction has significant implications for treatment, particularly in medical settings where the medical model (physical correction) is necessary.
