Körperschemastörung bei jugendlicher Anorexia Nervosa – welche Rolle hat die Aufmerksamkeitsverzerrung in der Körperwahrnehmung?

Einleitung Body image disturbance in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has been the topic of many studies; however, interacting processes therein remain poorly understood. One frequently mentioned aspect is an attentional bias (AB) toward negatively evaluated body parts. It is hypothesized that this AB is an upholding factor within AN. Relating to this, the current study tested whether this AB could be changed through computer-based body exposures and if potential changes in the AB were related to changes in psychopathology.

Methoden Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (INT) or a control group receiving treatment as usual (TAU). Both the INT and the TAU group received a preparatory session, which involved taking pictures in short sports clothing, doing a short attention test (d2), and completing questionnaires. The INT group then completed four sessions of body exposures on the computer; gaze patterns were recorded before and after each session with an eyetracker. During a follow-up session (2.5 weeks after the preparatory session), the INT and TAU group completed questionnaires and gaze patterns were recorded.

Ergebnisse A 2x2 ANOVA will be conducted to analyze gaze patterns between the groups from the first to the last intervention (INT group), or preparatory to follow-up session (TAU group), respectively. Also, a repeated measures ANOVA will be carried out to detect changes throughout the sessions in the INT-group. Lastly, psychopathology will be analyzed using a 2 (INT vs. TAU group) x2 (pre vs. post) ANOVA.

Schlussfolgerung Results will be discussed and put into context with previous research.

Publication History

Article published online:
06 September 2023