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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis

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Does habitual body avoidance and checking behavior influence the decrease of negative emotions during body exposure

Silja Vocks¹, Joachim Kosfelder, Maike Wucherer

¹Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. vocks@kli.psy.ruhr-uni-bochum.de

Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research

|September 26, 2008

Summary

Habitual body checking behaviors negatively impact the effectiveness of body exposure therapy for eating disorders. Reducing body checking may enhance emotional regulation during treatment.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Eating Disorders

Background:

Body exposure therapy is a common treatment for eating disorders.
Body avoidance and body checking are common in individuals with eating disorders.
The influence of these behaviors on treatment outcomes requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if habitual body avoidance and body checking influence emotional responses during body exposure.
To determine the relationship between body checking behaviors and the reduction of negative emotions.

Main Methods:

Twenty-one female participants with eating disorders completed questionnaires on body avoidance and body checking.
Participants underwent a 40-minute standardized body exposure session.
Negative emotions were assessed every 10 minutes during the exposure session.

Main Results:

Lower levels of body checking behavior predicted a greater decrease in negative emotions during body exposure.
Habitual body checking appears to hinder the positive effects of body exposure therapy.
These findings suggest body checking is a significant factor in treatment efficacy.

Conclusions:

Habitual body checking negatively influences the effectiveness of body exposure.
Adapting body exposure protocols for individuals with high body checking may improve outcomes.
Future research should explore interventions targeting body checking behaviors within exposure therapy.