About this app
Feel better about your appearance. Perspectives is a cognitive behavioral therapy app for body image concerns, which is currently being tested as part of an ongoing research study at Massachusetts General Hospital.
WHY PERSPECTIVES?
- Get a personalized 12-week program to help you feel better about your appearance
- Simple exercises based on evidence-backed cognitive behavioral therapy
- Complete exercises from the comfort of your own home
- Get paired to a coach to answer your questions
- No cost associated with the treatment
WHAT PREVIOUS USERS HAVE SAID
“I feel so much more in the moment, I walk around and notice how pretty things are”
“The [self-esteem module] was a powerful module, the tables turned at that moment, permanently”
“I would not have thought that an app could get me out of the house!”
“I am increasingly happy and would highly recommend the app. I’ve experienced real progress as it forces you out of your comfort zone, provides structure to be able to do so, and gives me tools to be able to handle the situation.”
---WHAT IS BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER?---
If you are suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), please know that you are not alone. In fact, recent studies suggest that BDD is relatively common and affects close to 2% of the population.
BDD, also known as body dysmorphia, is a mental disorder characterized by a severe preoccupation with a perceived defect in one’s appearance. Any body part can be the focus of concern. The most common areas of concern involve the face (e.g., nose, eyes, and chin), hair, and skin. Individuals with BDD often spend hours a day worrying about their appearance. Body dysmorphic disorder is NOT vanity. It is a serious and often debilitating condition.
---WHAT IS COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY?---
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for BDD is a skills-based treatment. It helps individuals to evaluate their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develop strategies to think and act in healthier ways.
In a nutshell, CBT helps you identify negative thoughts, and recognize how these thoughts are affecting behavior - so you can take practical steps to change what you do and how you feel.
Research has shown that CBT is a very effective treatment for body dysmorphic disorder. We are currently testing a smartphone-based CBT treatment for BDD. In our experience at our specialty BDD clinic, many people who need treatment for BDD are unable to access it, because of their location, lack of available therapists, or the costs of treatment. We hope that developing and testing this CBT for BDD app will give many more people access to treatment.
---HOW DOES PERSPECTIVES WORK?---
Perspectives is based on evidence-based treatment, CBT. It provides simple exercises over the course of a personalized twelve-week program which you can do from the comfort of your own home.
--- WHO IS BEHIND PERSPECTIVES ---
Perspectives has been created by clinicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, who have years of experience in cognitive behavioral therapy.
---HOW TO GET AN ACTIVATION CODE---
You can express your interest on our website https://perspectives.health/. You’ll speak to a clinician and if the app is a good fit for you, they will provide you with a code.
---SUPPORT CONTACT---
We care about your privacy, please read the following information carefully.
PATIENTS
If you have any questions, concerns, or technical difficulties, please contact the healthcare professional who provided you with the activation code for this mobile therapy.
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
For support with any aspect of Perspectives, please contact Support Services via email support@perspectives.health. For privacy reasons, please do not share any patient personal data with us.
---COMPATIBLE OS VERSIONS---
Perspectives is compatible with Android version 5.1 or greater.
App Permissions
Allows applications to open network sockets.
Allows applications to access information about networks.
Allows an application to write to external storage.
Allows an application to record audio.
Allows an application to modify global audio settings.
Allows read only access to phone state, including the phone number of the device, current cellular network information, the status of any ongoing calls, and a list of any PhoneAccounts registered on the device.
Allows using PowerManager WakeLocks to keep processor from sleeping or screen from dimming.
Allows an application to read from external storage.
