Clomipramine is another option. Other classes of drugs including TCAs, benzodiazepines, neuroleptics, and anticonvulsants have produced minimal or no improvement. In general it is recommended that medications be used in conjunction with psychosocial interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Does not significantly bind to alpha-adrenergic, histamine, or cholinergic receptors and thus has fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants - Use when SSRIs are ineffective.
Patients have best results when treated by a consistent medical and mental health team.
Cognitive behavioral therapy may be beneficial in situations during which patients develop a structured and predictable strategy in order to identify cognitive errors and maladaptive thinking. When cognitive-behavioral therapy is efficacious, patients learn to alter cognitive distortions and are able to maintain and generalize more adaptive thought patterns in daily life. Maximum benefit of SSRI medication may take several months. Practitioners must be made aware that patients with BDD are at a higher risk for suicide. BDD is sometimes overlooked as a diagnosis since many patients are reticent about discussing their symptoms.