BODY SCHEMAThe primary objective of the current study is investigating whether AN patients and controls differ in body schema. The first secondary objective of the current study is investigate whether there is a relation between body dissatisfaction…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Eating disorders and disturbances
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
BODY SCHEMA
The Body Schema task will be used to assess possible disturbances in body
schema. De outcome measure of this task is the A/S (aperture to shoulder
ratio), which is based on the smallest aperture for which participants rotate
their shoulders when they walk through it, and the participants* shoulder
width. It will be tested whether AN patients and controls have different A/S
values.
PMT PILOT
The PMT pilot contains one main study variable, namely changes in body schema
over time (pre vs post assessment). Body schema is assessed with an imagery
task in which participants judge whether they would fit through hoops varying
in size, while imagining performing this action.
We will calculate the critical hoop ratio, based on the smallest hoop for which
participants indicated they would fit through at least two out of three trials.
Secondary outcome
BODY SCHEMA
In order to investigate the first secondary objective of the first study, body
dissatisfaction will be assessed with two questionnaires: The Body Shape
Questionnaire en de Physical Appearance State and Trait Anxiety Scale: Sate.
The outcome measures for body dissatisfaction is the sum score of both
questionnaires. It will be tested whether body dissatisfaction measures
correlate with A/S values. In order to investigate the second secondary
objective of the current study body image will be assessed by asking
participants to estimate their shoulder width. This size estimation will be
used to determine the outcome measure A/S* (aperture to estimated shoulder
size ratio). It will be tested whether AN patients and controls have different
A/S* values.
PMT PILOT
The PMT pilot has three secundary study variables.
First, to investigate whether the body-schema directed intervention affects
body attitudes, it will be tested whether differences in pre- and
post-assessment on Body Shape Questionnaire scores (sum score).
Second, to investigate whether the body-schema directed intervention visual
body image, it will be tested whether differences in pre- and post-assessment
of visual body image can be identified. Visual body image will be assessed by
asking participants to draw a line representing their shoulder and hip width.
Third, to investigate whether the body-schema directed intervention affects
tactile body image, it will be tested whether differences in pre- and
post-assessment of tactile body image can be identified. Tactile body image
will be assessed with the Tactile Estimation Task, of which the outcome
measure is the mean distance estimation over all trials.
Background summary
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is one of the most invasive psychosomatic disorders with
a relatively high mortality rate. In order to ensure successful treatment it is
crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms of AN. One of the central
symptoms of AN is a disturbed experience of the own body. To date, not all
aspects of this so-called body representation disturbance have been
investigated fully. Though, research shows that body representation
disturbances appear to be the key to full recovery of AN. Therefore the current
study will focus on body schema. Body schema refers to an unconscious
representation of the body that is used during action, for example while
seating oneself on a chair. AN patients often express that they not only think
that they are too fat, but that they actually experience a sense of fatness
*from within*. It is possible that a body schema disturbance is responsible for
this feeling.
Study objective
BODY SCHEMA
The primary objective of the current study is investigating whether AN patients
and controls differ in body schema. The first secondary objective of the
current study is investigate whether there is a relation between body
dissatisfaction and body schema. A second secondary objective of the current
study is investigating whether hypothesized differences between AN patients and
controls in body schema can be explained by differences in body image.
PMT PILOT
The main aim of the PMT study is assessing whether a body-schema related
addidtion to the PMT intervention affects several aspects of the body
representation in AN (body attitudes, visual/tactile body image, body schema)
Study design
BODY SCHEMA
Quasi-experimental
PMT PILOT
The PMT pilot as an explorative/pilot design
Study burden and risks
It is not expected, but theoretically possible that the participants experience
negative emotions during the study, for example due to being video-taped.
However, the chance of experiencing negative emotions is thought to be minimal,
since before participation takes place the participants will be informed of the
procedures during the study (being filmed) and what will happen with the
footage. From experience with previous (AN) studies we learned that
participants understand why certain methods (being filmed in this case) are
important for the study, and that explaining these methods to the participants
reduces concerns. In addition, the knowledge that will be gained in the current
study will not only increase our understanding of body representation
disturbances in AN, but will might have implication for treatment of AN.
Heidelberglaan 2
Utrecht 3508TC
NL
Heidelberglaan 2
Utrecht 3508TC
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
BODY SCHEMA STUDY
Patients
Female, between 18 and 35 years of age, diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, physically non-disabled (i.e. able to perform tasks involving walking, and placing objects in boxes).
Healthy controls
Female, between 18 and 35 years of age, BMI between 19 and 25, no current severe mental health problems, physically non-disabled (i.e. able to perform tasks involving walking, and placing objects in boxes).;PMT PILOT
Patients
Female, over 18 years of age, diagnosed with AN, participating in the PMT group as part of treatment
Healthy controls
Female, over 18 years of age, not diagnosed with AN
Exclusion criteria
BODY SCHEMA
Patients
Use of medication that may influence task performance due to sedative effects, drowsiness or (psycho)motor impairments, comorbid Borderline personality disorder or contact disorder, recent start of treatment, treatment in the day-group, pregnancy.
Healthy controls
Use of medication that may influence task performance due to sedative effects, drowsiness or (psycho)motor impairments, pregnancy.;PMT PILOT
No specific exclusion criteria, unrelated to not fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Ofcourse, if the therapist has any reason to advise against participation of the AN patients in the pilot, we will not include this patient in our sample.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL36056.041.11 |