Beykoz Üniversitesi

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Browsing Beykoz Üniversitesi by Journal "Acta Psychologica"

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    Article
    Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Muscle Dysmorphia Symptoms Among Turkish Gym Goers: A Pilot Study
    (Elsevier, 2024) Cinaroglu, Metin; Yilmazer, Eda; Ulker, Selami Varol; Ahlatcioglu, Esra Noyan; Sayar, Gokben Hizli
    Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a disorder marked by an obsessive focus on muscularity, often leading to excessive exercise, rigid dieting, and use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). While Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is known to be effective for various body image disorders, its specific effects on individuals with MD have been less studied. This qualitative case series involved seven male participants, aged 35-55, all diagnosed with MD and with a history of anabolic steroid use, undergoing a 12-week manualized CBT intervention. The study aimed to explore how CBT impacts their body image perceptions, exercise behaviors, steroid use, and emotional responses. Data were collected through participant feedback during therapy sessions, with thematic analysis revealing significant shifts in body image perception and reductions in compulsive behaviors and steroid use. Despite these improvements, participants experienced feelings of loss and anxiety as they modified their routines, and some reported relapses under stress, indicating the chronic nature of MD. The findings suggest that CBT effectively reshapes cognitive and behavioral patterns in MD sufferers but also highlight the need for ongoing support to manage the disorder's emotional complexities and prevent relapses. Future research should focus on long-term and individualized therapeutic approaches to better support those with muscle dysmorphia.
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    Multimodal Neurophysiological Responses to Body Image Stimuli in Men with Muscle Dysmorphia and Steroid Use
    (Elsevier, 2025) Cinaroglu, Metin; Yilmazer, Eda; Ulker, Selami Varol; Sayar, Gokben Hizli
    Muscle dysmorphia (MD), a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), involves a pathological preoccupation with muscularity and is commonly linked to anabolic steroid and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) use. Despite its rising prevalence, the neurophysiological and affective mechanisms underlying MD, particularly in steroid users, remain underexplored. This study examined 71 male strength-training participants (35 with BDD/ steroid use; 36 controls) during a passive viewing task of muscular, average, and slender male physiques while recording electroencephalography (EEG), electrodermal activity (EDA), and eye-tracking data. Psychometric assessments captured muscularity concerns (Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory, MDDI), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, OCI-R), appearance-related anxiety (Social Appearance Anxiety Scale, SAAS; Social Physique Anxiety Scale, SPAS), and selfesteem (Self-Liking/Self-Competence Scale-Revised, SLCS-R). The BDD/MD group showed significantly heightened responses to muscular stimuli across all modalities. EEG results revealed increased P300 and late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes, along with greater left-lateralized frontal alpha asymmetry. Eye-tracking indicated longer fixation durations and more frequent fixations on muscular images. EDA results showed elevated levels of autonomic arousal. Between-group differences in psychometric measures were substantial, with large effect sizes. Correlational analyses demonstrated significant associations between MD severity and neurophysiological markers, including LPP amplitude, frontal asymmetry, and EDA reactivity. These findings suggest that men with MD and steroid/PEDs use exhibit amplified attentional, emotional, and physiological reactivity to muscular body images. The integration of EEG, EDA, and eye-tracking provides novel insights into the neurocognitive-affective profile of BDD/MD, emphasizing the salience of idealized physiques in this population. Results support the potential utility of multimodal measures as objective indicators for assessing body image disturbance and underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing perceptual and emotional dysregulation in BDD/MD.