Virtual Reality Exposure to a Healthy Weight Body Is a Promising Adjunct Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Anorexia nervosa (AN) treatment outcomes are often modest.
• Fear of weight gain is a significant predictor of poor treatment prognosis and relapse in AN.
• Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to improve AN treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a virtual reality (VR) system designed for exposure therapy in anorexia nervosa.
• To evaluate the potential of VR exposure to healthy weight as an adjunctive treatment for AN.
• To assess the clinical effects and patient experience of VR exposure in individuals with AN.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted involving women with high weight/shape concerns and women diagnosed with AN.
• Participants underwent virtual reality exposure to scenarios depicting healthy weight.
• Data collected included participant arousal, fear levels, and clinical outcomes related to weight gain concerns.

Main Results:

• In study 1, 90% of participants experienced high arousal with low to medium fear during VR exposure.
• Study 2 indicated that VR exposure to healthy weight induced significant arousal in AN patients.
• A trend suggested that four VR sessions improved fear of weight gain, with large effect sizes observed.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality exposure is a potent method for eliciting fear of weight gain in individuals with AN.
• Repeated VR exposure to healthy weight shows a promising trend in reducing fear of weight gain.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and individual response patterns to VR therapy for AN.