A New Measure of Body Image in Eating Disorders
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric, Eating Disorder |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 13 - 64 |
| Updated: | 12/1/2018 |
| Start Date: | March 16, 2018 |
| End Date: | March 2023 |
| Contact: | Christina Ralph-Nearman, PhD |
| Email: | CRalph-Nearman@laureateinstitute.org |
| Phone: | 9185025743 |
Measurement of Body Image in Eating Disorders
This study aims to compare a new electronic instrument called (here referred to as the 'Body
App') with traditional paper and pencil rating scales for assessing how individuals with
eating disorders evaluate their body image.
App') with traditional paper and pencil rating scales for assessing how individuals with
eating disorders evaluate their body image.
Self-perceived weight or shape disturbance is a core symptom of eating disorders, with heavy
therapeutic and prognostic relevance. Developing a reliable and unbiased method to assess
body image disturbance is imperative, as feature characteristics of eating disorders, such as
anorexia nervosa, include the overestimation of body size and shape. Among the most essential
features of the disorder, this inability to correctly judge one's own body image has been
frequently linked to the maintenance of eating disorders. Moreover, persistent perceptual
disturbance for one's visual appearance is one of the strong predictors of relapse in AN and
bulimia nervosa.
Body image disturbance can be conceptualized as having two main components: perceptual, and
attitudinal/affective. These might be considered two distinct constructs, best measured
independently. However, clinicians currently rely upon self-report questionnaires that
evaluate aggregates of symptoms, perceptual experiences, behaviors, and thoughts linked to
the disorder. Some scales selectively evaluate body image characteristics such as body
dissatisfaction and body distortion. However, it is unclear to what degree each of these
measures quantifies the specific components of perceptual experiences vs.
attitudinal/affective aspects. This study aims to evaluate whether a new electronic
instrument, here referred to as the 'Body App', which separates estimations of body shape and
size from the attitudinal/affective component might result in closer approximations of the
perceptual component of weight or shape disturbance, and facilitate the assessment of body
image disturbance in eating disorders.
therapeutic and prognostic relevance. Developing a reliable and unbiased method to assess
body image disturbance is imperative, as feature characteristics of eating disorders, such as
anorexia nervosa, include the overestimation of body size and shape. Among the most essential
features of the disorder, this inability to correctly judge one's own body image has been
frequently linked to the maintenance of eating disorders. Moreover, persistent perceptual
disturbance for one's visual appearance is one of the strong predictors of relapse in AN and
bulimia nervosa.
Body image disturbance can be conceptualized as having two main components: perceptual, and
attitudinal/affective. These might be considered two distinct constructs, best measured
independently. However, clinicians currently rely upon self-report questionnaires that
evaluate aggregates of symptoms, perceptual experiences, behaviors, and thoughts linked to
the disorder. Some scales selectively evaluate body image characteristics such as body
dissatisfaction and body distortion. However, it is unclear to what degree each of these
measures quantifies the specific components of perceptual experiences vs.
attitudinal/affective aspects. This study aims to evaluate whether a new electronic
instrument, here referred to as the 'Body App', which separates estimations of body shape and
size from the attitudinal/affective component might result in closer approximations of the
perceptual component of weight or shape disturbance, and facilitate the assessment of body
image disturbance in eating disorders.
Eating disorders group:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Primary clinical diagnosis of eating disorder
- Receiving inpatient treatment for eating disorder
- Body mass index greater than or equal to 14
- Independently ambulatory
- Possession of a smartphone with data plan
- English proficiency
Exclusion Criteria:
- Active suicidal ideation
- Comorbid schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder.
Healthy comparison group:
Inclusion Criteria:
- No current psychiatric diagnosis
- Body mass index greater than or equal to 14
- Independently ambulatory
- Possession of a smartphone with data plan
- English proficiency
Exclusion Criteria:
- Body mass index > 41
- Active suicidal ideation
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