Biobehavioral Institute Articles

A Failing grade for nation's gifted education programs

A Failing grade for nation’s gifted education programs By Natascha M. Santos, MA, MS Article Appeared in Queens Family Magazine Magazine January 2012 The report card is out on the nation’s gifted education classes, and it is not good. The National Association for Gifted...

Warrior Parents for Autism Services

Article appearing in February - March 2012 Long Island Parenting Magazine. Click here to read article

The Goods on Mean Girls

Article on Bullying appeared in Houston Family Magazine. Click here to read article

A Proposed Learning Model of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

A Proposed Learning Model of Body Dysmorphic Disorder Fugen Neziroglu and Lauren M. Mancusi Bio-Behavioral Institute, Great Neck, NY USA 1. Introduction While it is common for individuals to have concerns about their appearance, individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) experience a marked distress that often results in time-consuming rituals, social anxiety, and depression among other debilitating effects....

Status of Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Argentina

Borda, T., Neziroglu, F., Santos, N., Donnelly, K., & Rivera, RP. (2011). Status of body dysmorphic disorder in Argentina. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25, 507-512. Although body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has received recent attention, it remains misunderstood and under-studied. The Argentine population seeks out plastic surgery at a disproportionate rate and exhibits high rates of preoccupation with bodily dissatisfaction, yet BDD is...

Are You An Obsessive Compulsive Eater? Take this quiz

Almost everyone thinks about food daily, craves certain food, and struggles with thoughts about food while dieting, but not everyone suffers from obsessive compulsive eating. Take this quiz to help identify if you may suffer from obsessive compulsive eating. SCORING GUIDE: Add up the responses to all 20 questions to earn a total score. A total score of 44 or above suggests that you may be an obsessive compulsive eater.

What is Depersonalization?

WHAT IS DEPERSONALIZATION? By:...

People, places, and emotional contamination: A common but underrecognized form of OCD

Most people are familiar with contamination fears in OCD. Typically sufferers are fearful of commonly known sources of contamination, such as dirt, germs, feces/urine, household chemicals, and respond by rituals aimed at de-contamination, such as hand washing, showering etc.. But there is another form of contamination we see quite frequently in our practice referred to as "emotional contamination." In this form of OCD, individuals&n

Do Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Asperger's disorder (AS) co-exist?

Asperger’s disorder (AS) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are both neurological disorders characterized by obsessive and repetitive behaviors, however many significant differences are observed. AS, one of five pervasive developmental disorders, involves impairments in language,...

5 Tips for Effective Parenting

5 Tips for Effective Parenting 1. Be Consistent

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) as a persistent pattern of orderliness, perfectionism, and/or control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. Persons with this condition typically tend to resist the authority of others, while simultaneously demanding that others conform to their rigid way of doing things.&nb

Social Learning Theory and Cognitive Behavioral Models of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Neziroglu, F., Khemlani-Patel, S., & Veale, D. (2008). Social learning theory and cognitive behavioral models of body dysmorphic disorder. Body Image, 5, 28-38. Abstract Contemporary cognitive behavioral models of body dysmorphic disorder are reviewed, whereby the first by Neziroglu and colleagues emphasizes conditioning processes and relational frame theory and the latter by Veale emphasizes information processing. A brief review of the existing...

Psychotherapy of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Spectrum: Established Facts and Advances, 1995-2005

Neziroglu, F., Henricksen, J., & Yaryura-Tobias, J. (2006). Psychotherapy of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Spectrum: Established Facts and Advances, 1995–2005. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 29, 585-604.

Rates of Abuse in Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Neziroglu, F., Khemlani-Patel, S., & Yaryura-Tobias, J.A. (2006). Rates of abuse in body dysmorphic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Body Image, 3, 189-193. Abstract Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) continues to challenge professionals due to symptom severity, co-morbidity, suicidal ideation, and overvalued ideation. Despite the disorder's severity, little research exists. Clinical observation suggests a noteworthy history of...

Clinical Application of a Behavioral Model for the Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Rabinowitz, D., Neziroglu, F., & Roberts, M. (2007). Clinical Application of a Behavioral Model for the Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 14, 231-237. Abstract Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an obsessive concern over a perceived flaw in bodily appearance. If a minor flaw does exist, the...

Overvalued Ideation as a Predictor of Fluvoxamine Response in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Neziroglu, F., Pinto, A., Yaryura-Tobias, J.A., & McKay, D. (2003). Overvalued ideation as a predictor of fluvoxamine response in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder. Psychiatry Research, 125, 53-60. Abstract The presence of overvalued ideation (OVI) in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been theoretically linked to poorer treatment outcome. OVI has recently been shown to predict treatment...

Methodological Issues in the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum

McKay, D.a, & Neziroglu, F. (2009). Methodological issues in the obsessive–compulsive spectrum. Psychiatry Research, 170, 61-65. a - Dean McKay - Fordham University, Department of Psychology, Bronx, NY Abstract The obsessive–compulsive spectrum is a heterogeneous class of conditions. Recently, expert consensus has emerged regarding possible candidate disorders [Mataix-Cols, D., Petrusa, A., Leckman, J.F.,...

Could you Suffer from Hoarding? Take this quiz

Almost everyone has some packrat tendencies, but not everyone is a compulsive hoarder. Take this quiz, adapted from Dr. Neziroglu’s book “Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding” to help identify if you may suffer from hoarding. SCORING GUIDE: Add up the responses to all 20 questions to earn a total score. The higher your total score, the more likely it is that you may be suffering...

Could you be an Animal Hoarder? Take this quiz

Many people are lovers of animals, wanting to rescue them, care for them, feed them, and love them. Not only do we often have close emotional bonds with our pets, but often receive unconditional love from them. When does a lover of animals become a hoarder of animals? Take this Quiz to see if you may have shifted from a lover/rescuer of animals to a hoarder of animals.

Who Suffers from Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

WHO SUFFERS FROM BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER? BDD may affect up to 2% of the United States population. The ratio of males to females appears to be equal. BDD seems to begin in adolescence. Research at our Institute and other centers indicates that the age of onset is between 14 and 20. Cases that begin at an earlier or later age are not uncommon. Since BDD has only recently gained the attention of researchers, no one specifically knows what causes it....