Abstract

PEREZ RESTREPO, Victoria; VALENCIA, María Nelly; RODRIGUEZ G, Maritza  and  GEMPELER R, Juanita. A Case of Muscular Dysmorphia and Steroid Abuse. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2007, vol.36, n.1, pp.154-164. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The phenomenology of muscular dysmorphia, -a subtype of Body Dismorphic Disorder (BDD) _ as well as the clinical consequences of steroid abuse that usually accompanies it are barely known and this possibly explains why it tends to be underdiagnosed in our country. Objectives: To present a clinical case of a male with Muscular Dysmorphia and Steroid Abuse, and analyse the advantages of using pharmacotherapy added to a dual psychotherapeutic approach. Method: Case report. Results: 43 year old male, who consulted "Equilibrio" program (in Bogotá-Colombia), with extreme preoccupation regarding the shape of his body and size of his muscles, compulsive exercise and rigid and stereotyped hyperproteic food consumption. Additionally, he presented chronic steroid abuse and a Major Depressive Disorder. Conclusions: The phenomenology of Muscular Dysmorphia presents similarities and differences with Anorexia Nervosa and other pathologies from the Obsessive Compulsive spectrum. While in Anorexia Nervosa there is a pathological search for thinness, in Muscular Dysmorphia it is for volume. Contrary to other impulse control disorders, in Muscular Dysmorphia one can find a higher expression of the compulsive over the impulsive. The signs and symptoms of steroid abuse can contribute to the expression of affective and systemic alterations.

Keywords : Body Dysmorphic Disorder; Muscular Dysmorphic Disorder; Steroid Abuse.

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