Il Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-7 adattato per il Dismorfismo Corporeo

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an excessive concern about perceived physical defects, often causing significant psychological distress. Cognitive fusion plays a crucial role in the symptomatology of BDD; it is a psychological process in which individuals become entangled with their thoughts rather than considering them as mere mental events. However, such fusion related to physical appearance can also manifest in non-clinical populations, highlighting the need for context-specific evaluation tools. Nonetheless, the measures currently available in Italy, such as the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-7, may not adequately assess the cognitive fusion specifically directed toward body dysmorphic concerns. This study, therefore, examined the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the CFQ-7 adapted for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD-CFQ). A total of 166 women and 120 men completed an online questionnaire, which included the BDD-CFQ, the generic cognitive fusion instrument, the Body Compassion Scale, and the Questionario sul Dismorfismo Corporeo (Questionnaire on Body Dysmorphia). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted, along with a multi-group analysis to verify gender invariance, and further analyses of construct validity. The CFA showing good fit indices. Additional results demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = .96), outstanding construct and incremental validity, as well as evidence of gender invariance. Consequently, the BDD-CFQ emerges as a brief and effective tool for assessing a key process of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) relevant to body defect concerns in both clinical and non-clinical contexts. These findings have important implications for the development of targeted interventions and the evaluation of the effectiveness of ACT interventions focused on symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder.