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Imagery is a relatively novel area of interest in eating disorders (EDs). Clinical experience and some research work indicate that rescripting of early memories may be a useful way to modify core beliefs in EDs. Relevant constructs, as applied in the current paper, are defined and described, including core beliefs, imagery rescripting, and early memories. Existing empirical research on the outcome of imagery rescripting of early memories is outlined, including in EDs. Relevant ED research on images and early memories in EDs is presented. A case is made for applying imagery rescripting to early memories in EDs. The origins and development of a clinical protocol are described. The aim of the protocol is to identify and rescript or modify early memories associated with the core beliefs characteristic of EDs. This process has also been applied in other disorders. Clinical examples illustrate the application of the protocol in EDs, including extracts of dialogue from a clinical case. The paper covers indications for use of the protocol, practical and ethical considerations, its suitability in individual cases, and some final practical tips. These include examples of useful questions to ask patients that facilitate successful rescripting of memories, and thus core belief modification. The paper concludes with some thoughts on future work. (Contains 4 tables.)

This study tested the hypothesis that cognitive disturbance has a causal role in the maintenance of disturbed eating in bulimia nervosa. Thoughts about eating, weight and shape were activated in one group of patients with bulimia nervosa (the experimental group) but not in another (the control group). There was an increase in negative self-statements in the experimental group following the experimental manipulation. Food consumption was then measured in a taste test. As predicted, the experimental group ate less in the short term than the control group. Contrary to expectations, they did not subsequently report more objective bulimic episodes as a consequence of this decreased food intake. They did, however, report significantly fewer subjective bulimic episodes.

Concurrent verbalisation and a self-report questionnaire were used to investigate self-statements in patients with anorexia nervosa, patients with bulimia nervosa, two groups of dieters and non-dieting controls. Thoughts were collected while subjects performed three behavioural tasks, looking at themselves in a full-length mirror, weighing themselves and eating a chocolate covered mint. Both groups of patients had more negative thoughts related to eating, weight and shape than those in the three control groups. In addition, patients with anorexia nervosa showed a greater concern with eating while patients with bulimia nervosa showed a greater concern with weight and appearance. Differences were found between the patients and non-dieting controls using both methods but the self-report questionnaire was less sensitive than concurrent verbalisation to differences between the patients and dieters. Implications of the findings for cognitive-behavioural treatments of the two disorders are discussed.

The Stroop color-naming task was used to investigate selective information processing in people with bulimia nervosa. Three cards were used: a target card consisting of words related to eating, weight, and shape; a control word card; and the standard conflicting-color card. Thirty-six patients with bulimia nervosa were compared with a group of age-matched female controls. It was found that the amount of disruption caused to color naming by the target card was significantly greater in the bulimia nervosa group than in the female control group, whereas that caused by the color card was similar in the two groups. The Stroop color-naming task may be a useful objective measure of one aspect of the cognitive disturbance of patients with bulimia nervosa.

Core beliefs specific to eating disorder and depressive symptoms were investigated in four groups of adolescent girls well matched on these symptoms. Results indicated that one-way analyses of variance found that both measures distinguished a 'healthy' group and a group high on depressed symptoms, but not one high on eating disorder symptoms.

Background: It is likely that disrupted early parent-child relationships, eating disorder related cognitions and negative self-beliefs are relevant to some women who are overweight/obese. Aims: This study tested the hypotheses that disrupted parent-child relationships would be linked to higher body mass index (BMI) and that this relationship would then be mediated by cognition. Method: A group of women were recruited from the community and completed measures of eating disorder (ED) thoughts, negative self-beliefs, and parental bonding. Individual body mass indices (BMIs) were calculated. Results: One hundred and eighteen women completed the study. There was a relationship between parental bonding and higher BMI. As hypothesized, the relationship between parental bonding (as measured by maternal care, and paternal overprotection) and BMI appeared to be mediated by a range of ED thoughts, and some negative self-beliefs. Conclusion: The cognitions measured here, both ED related cognitions and negative self-beliefs, may be a useful target when considering psychological treatment for women who are overweight or obese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore metacognition in women with anorexia nervosa (AN), dieting and non-dieting women. Method A cross-sectional study between groups design compared women with AN (n = 15), normal dieters (n = 17) and non-dieters (n = 18). A semi-structured interview was used to explore presence and content of explicit metacognitions and use of metacognitive control strategies. Results Explicit metacognitions and metacognitive control strategies were present in all three groups of women. There were group differences in amount and function of metacognitive activity and trends in the qualitative data suggested participants with AN believed that their thoughts were abnormal and uncontrollable. They used six metacognitive strategies more than control groups and were less successful at using thought re-appraisal and attending to body and others. Half of participants with AN reported using these strategies to deliberately make themselves feel worse. Discussion It is suggested that metacognitive activity may play a role in the maintenance of AN, particularly in reinforcing negative self-evaluations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]