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Attentional bias in eating disorders

Authors :
Roz Shafran
Zafra Cooper
Michelle Lee
Christopher G. Fairburn
Robert L. Palmer
Source :
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between eating disorders and attentional biases. Method: The first study comprised 23 female patients with clinical eating disorders, women with high levels ofanxiety (n = 19), and three female normal control groups comprising low (n = 31), moderate (n = 21), or high levels of shape concern (n = 23). The second study comprised 82 women with clinical eating disorders and 44 healthy controls. All participants completed measures of eating disorder psychopathology and completed a modified pictorial dot-probe task. Results: In the first study, biases were found for negative eating and neutral weight pictures, and for positive eating pictures in women with eating disorders; these biases were greater than those found in anxious and normal controls. The second study replicated these findings and biases were also found for negative and neutral shape stimuli. Conclusion: It is concluded that future research should establish whether such biases warrant specific therapeutic interventions. © 2007 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2007

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1098108X and 02763478
Volume :
40
Issue :
4
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The International journal of eating disorders
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....f5de120bc9da838d7e6db1302978d437