differentiating between body dysmorphic disorder and gender dysphoria

This workshop provides an evidence-based, clinically grounded introduction to the key differences between gender dysphoria and body dysmorphic disorder. Drawing on peer reviewed research from psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, clinical medicine, dermatology, and plastic surgery, this workshop supports participants to make more accurate formulations, avoid harmful misclassification, and provide safer, more affirming care for people experiencing body distress.

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Who it is for

This workshop is for people and services who support trans people, people experiencing body dysmorphic disorder, or people presenting with significant body distress.

This includes:

Psychologists
Psychiatrists
GPs
Counsellors and psychotherapists
Social workers
Occupational therapists
School wellbeing staff
Educators
Gender clinics and broader trans health services
Youth mental health services
Eating disorder services
Body image clinicians and researchers
Dermatology, cosmetic medicine, and other appearance related care professionals
Plastic surgeons and other medical professionals involved in appearance-related care

What it covers

This workshop covers:

Why it is important to differentiate gender dysphoria from body dysmorphic disorder
What body dysmorphic disorder is, including its key diagnostic features
What gender dysphoria is, including social, physical, and dissociative experiences
How body image, body schema, and body representation can help explain the difference between the two
How gender dysphoria and body dysmorphic disorder differ in interpretation of the body, distress, focus of concern, temporal focus, and level of insight
Where gender dysphoria sits within broader body image concerns, and how this differs from body image distortion
How concepts such as interoception, exteroception, proprioception, and phantom sensations can inform understanding of gender dysphoria
Prevalence and co-occurrence findings related to body dysmorphic disorder and gender diversity
How gender dysphoria and body dysmorphic disorder differ in their response to medical interventions
Screening and treatment considerations, including the role and limits of screening measures and the importance of diagnostic interviews

Learning outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Describe the core features of body dysmorphic disorder and gender dysphoria
Explain why gender dysphoria and body dysmorphic disorder are not interchangeable, even when both involve significant body distress
Distinguish gender dysphoria from body dysmorphic disorder across body image, body schema, emotional experience, focus of concern, temporal focus, insight, and response to medical intervention
Explain how body schema, embodiment, and related concepts such as interoception, exteroception, proprioception, and phantom sensations can inform understanding of gender dysphoria
Recognise the risks of harmful misclassification, including the risks of applying body dysmorphic disorder approaches to gender dysphoria
Use screening measures more accurately, while recognising that they support but do not replace diagnostic interviews
Apply broad treatment principles for body dysmorphic disorder, gender dysphoria, and co-occurring presentations in a safer and more affirming way

Overview

Duration: Self-paced 2-hour workshop recording

Price: $35AUD

Included resources:

Copy of the session slides
Trans-affirming body mapping protocol
Checklist for differentiating gender dysphoria and body dysmorphic disorder
Suite of scoring gender dysphoria, body dysmorphic disorder, and co-occurrence screening tools
"My Body and Gender Timeline" resource
List of state-based gender diversity support services

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