A psychometric validation of the Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire (DCQ) in adolescents and young adults

ABSTRACT

Objective

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a chronic mental health condition with symptoms typically emerging in early adolescence. Despite the onset in adolescence, most self-report BDD severity measures have not been validated with adolescent and young adult samples. The Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire (DCQ) was developed to assess dysmorphic concern and to date has only been psychometrically validated in adult samples. The aim of the current study was to examine the psychometric properties of the DCQ to ensure it is suitable for clinical use with adolescent and young adult patients.

Method

One hundred and ninety-five individuals aged 12–21 years (M = 18.25, SD = 2.51; 59% female) participated in the study.

Results

The DCQ demonstrated a unidimensional construct [χ2 (14) = 24.59, p = .04; RMSEA =.06, SRMR =.02 and CFI =.99], with good internal consistency (α = .88). The DCQ also showed high convergent validity with measures of BDD symptomatology, however, divergent validity was not supported in this study. Known-groups validity of the DCQ was established, with a large effect size (d = 1.28).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that the DCQ is a brief, reliable, and valid measure that is appropriate to screen for symptoms of BDD in adolescent and young adults and to monitor symptom change during treatment.

KEY POINTS

What is already known about this topic:

1. Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition which results in significant functional impairment.

2. The Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire (DCQ) is a psychometrically sound measure of dysmorphic concern.

3. Body dysmorphic disorder commonly occurs in adolescence.

What this topic adds:

• (1) This is the first study to evaluate the psychometric properties of the DCQ in a sample of adolescents and young adults.

• (2) The psychometric properties of the DCQ are similar in adult and adolescent/young adult samples.

• (3) The DCQ is appropriate to use with adolescent and young adult patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• body dysmorphic disorder
• dysmorphic concern
• body image
• patient-rated outcome measures

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, BMW, upon reasonable request.