The effectiveness of unified transdiagnostic therapy on emotional well-being and self-esteem in girls with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a debilitating condition that significantly affects emotional well-being and self-esteem. This study examines the effectiveness of Unified Transdiagnostic Therapy (UTT) in improving emotional well-being and self-esteem in girls with BDD. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group. The population included 28 adolescent girls diagnosed with BDD in Rasht in 2024. The participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=14) or the control group (n=14). The research instruments included the Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (BDD-YBOCS), Emotional Well-Being Scale (EWS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSS). The intervention group participated in eight weekly 90-minute UTT sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The data was analyzed using MANCOVA in SPSS-27 software. The results showed that UTT significantly increased positive affect (F = 18.39) and self-esteem (F = 53.98), while substantially reducing BDD (F = 79.88) and negative affect (F = 53.37) in girls with the condition (P<0.001). UTT effectively enhances emotional well-being by increasing positive affect and reducing negative affect, while also boosting self-esteem and alleviating BDD. These findings highlight UTT as a comprehensive and effective intervention for addressing both emotional and psychological challenges in individuals with BDD, with significant implications for clinical practice.