The Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ) is a self-report tool used to assess concerns related to deformity or perceived flaws in one’s appearance. It was designed to detect the likelihood of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a psychiatric condition in which an individual is excessively preoccupied with one or more perceived defects in their appearance.

Description

The DCQ is a short questionnaire consisting of seven questions that assess the level of concern an individual has about their appearance. Each question is rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (very much). The questions address various aspects of dysmorphic concern, such as how often a person worries about their appearance, their tendency to compare their looks to others, whether concern about appearance affects their social life and self-esteem, how often they seek reassurance from others about their appearance, and the extent to which they focus on specific body features they believe are defective.

Analysis

The analysis of the DCQ is based on the total score derived from the seven questions, ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater dysmorphic concern and a possible presence of body dysmorphic disorder. The analysis includes summing the total score to reflect the level of concern and comparing it to predetermined cut-off points to determine whether further assessment or intervention is needed.

Purpose

The main goals of the DCQ are to assist in identifying individuals who may require psychological evaluation or treatment, to provide insight into how appearance-related concerns affect an individual’s daily life and well-being, and to support clinical decision-making by helping professionals determine if further intervention is necessary.

Scoring

Scoring the DCQ involves defining threshold values based on statistical models that indicate significant dysmorphic concern. The tool’s reliability and validity have been tested in various populations to ensure accurate results.

References

Oosthuizen, P., Lambert, T., & Castle, D. J. (1998). Dysmorphic concern: Prevalence and associations with clinical variables. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 32(1), 129–132.
Thomas, C. S., & Goldberg, D. P. (1995). Appearance concerns and psychopathology: The association between dysmorphic concerns, personality and self-esteem in a general population sample. International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 9(2), 127–132.
Rief, W., & Buhlmann, U. (2006). The Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire: Evaluation of its measurement properties and relationship to personality traits and appearance anxiety. Psychological Medicine, 36(8), 1111–1117.