An investigation of the effects of intranasal oxytocin spray on socio-emotional brain regions in participants with Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

INTERVENTION: Two acute treatment (24 IU each) conditions including; a) intranasal placebo, and b) intranasal oxytocin (Syntocinon, Novartis, Switzerland). The two treatment conditions will be separated by a minimum of 1 week (washout period). The nasal sprays will be administered 50 mins prior to the functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) protocol. The fMRI protocol will be one hour in duration and involve showing participants a brief task involving pictures of human faces expressing different emotions. The fMRI protocol will also involve taking structural, resting state and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) images of the brain while the participant is not engaged in a task. CONDITION: Body Dysmorphic Disorder PRIMARY OUTCOME: Functional MRI (fMRI) data will be collected in response to an emotional face expression task. The fMRI data will be compared within the patient (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) group for differences in brain response (e.g., in the amygdala) between placebo and oxytocin conditions. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Using the fMRI data, the patients with BDD will be compared to healthy controls on brain response (e.g., amygdala) under normal (placebo) conditions to see whether any differences in brain activity is present. ; ; Using the DTI and structural MRI data, the whole‐brain and white matter structure of the brains of patients with BDD will be examined in comparison to the healthy control group to see if any structural or white matter differences are present. INCLUSION CRITERIA: For Healthy controls: Right‐handed; between the ages of 18‐65 years; non‐smoker and no drug/alcohol abuse; medication free; no neurological disorders, and no metal objects present in body (or which can't be removed or which is not MRI safe). Women who have not experienced menopause. For Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): As above plus a diagnosis of the disorder is required.