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Updated: May 16, 2026
04:23
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
Exposure therapy in eating disorders revisited
Antonia Koskina1, Iain C Campbell, Ulrike Schmidt
1Section of Eating Disorders-PO59, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom. a.koskina@kcl.ac.uk
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|December 4, 2012
Summary
Exposure therapy shows inconsistent results for eating disorders (ED), unlike its success in anxiety and addiction treatment. This review examines its use in ED, identifies knowledge gaps, and suggests future research directions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Exposure therapy is effective for anxiety disorders and addictions.
- Evidence for exposure therapy in eating disorders (ED) is currently inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- Systematically review the literature on exposure therapy for ED.
- Identify theoretical underpinnings and current knowledge deficits.
- Propose potential improvements informed by neurobiological and technological research.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of databases up to 2012.
- Review of theoretical frameworks for exposure therapy in ED.
- Integration of findings from neuropharmacology, neuroscience, and behavioral research.
Main Results:
- The effectiveness of exposure therapy in eating disorders remains inconsistent.
- Significant gaps exist in the current understanding and application of exposure therapy for ED.
- Neurobiological and technological advancements offer potential avenues for improvement.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to clarify the role and optimize the application of exposure therapy in eating disorder treatment.
- Integrating insights from neuroscience and technologies like virtual reality may enhance treatment efficacy.
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