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Exposure therapy for eating disorders: A systematic review
Rachel M Butler1, Richard G Heimberg1
1Department of Psychology, Temple University, United States.
Clinical Psychology Review
|April 1, 2020
Summary
Exposure therapy shows promise for eating disorders, with mirror exposure reducing body dissatisfaction and virtual reality improving accessibility. However, evidence for exposure and response prevention
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Therapy
Background:
- Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions requiring effective therapeutic interventions.
- Exposure therapy, rooted in learning theory, is being explored as a potential treatment modality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on various exposure interventions for eating disorders.
- To evaluate the efficacy and limitations of different exposure techniques.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 60 studies on exposure and response prevention (ERP), in vivo feared food exposure, mirror exposure, family-based treatment with exposure, and virtual reality exposure therapy.
- Analysis of studies incorporating exposure within broader therapeutic frameworks like CBT and inpatient treatment.
Main Results:
- Mirror exposure, with or without CBT, effectively reduces body dissatisfaction.
- ERP shows marginal benefits for binge and purge cues compared to other treatments.
- In vivo feared food exposure may reduce anxiety and improve nutritional intake, but research is limited.
- Virtual reality exposure therapy offers potential for improved clinical accessibility.
Conclusions:
- Exposure therapy components demonstrate varied efficacy in treating eating disorders.
- The distinct effects of exposure itself are often difficult to isolate due to integration into broader treatments.
- Further research is needed to refine and optimize exposure-based interventions for eating disorders.
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