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Changes in neuronal correlates of body image processing by means of cognitive-behavioural body image therapy for eating disorders: a randomized controlled fMRI study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2010

S. Vocks ,
D. Schulte ,
M. Busch ,
D. Grönemeyer ,
S. Herpertz  and
B. Suchan
S. Vocks*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
D. Schulte
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
M. Busch
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany
D. Grönemeyer
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany
S. Herpertz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
B. Suchan
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany
*
*Address for correspondence: PD Dr S. Vocks, Ruhr-University Bochum, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated abnormalities in visual body image processing in anorexia and bulimia nervosa, possibly underlying body image disturbance in these disorders. Although cognitive behavioural interventions have been shown to be successful in improving body image disturbance in eating disorders, no randomized controlled study has yet analysed treatment-induced changes in neuronal correlates of visual body image processing.

Method

Altogether, 32 females with eating disorders were randomly assigned either to a manualized cognitive behavioural body image therapy consisting of 10 group sessions, or to a waiting list control condition. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, brain responses to viewing photographs of one's own and another female's body taken from 16 standardized perspectives while participants were wearing a uniform bikini were acquired before and after the intervention and the waiting time, respectively.

Results

Data indicate a general blood oxygen level dependent signal enhancement in response to looking at photographs of one's own body from pre- to post-treatment, whereas exclusively in the control group activation decreases from pre- to post-waiting time were observed. Focused activation increases from pre- to post-treatment were found in the left middle temporal gyrus covering the coordinates of the extrastriate body area and in bilateral frontal structures including the middle frontal gyrus.

Conclusions

Results point to a more intense neuronal processing of one's own body after the cognitive behavioural body image therapy in cortical regions that are responsible for the visual processing of the human body and for self-awareness.

Keywords

Anorexia nervosabody image disturbancebulimia nervosacognitive-behavioural therapyfunctional neuroimaging
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 8 , August 2011 , pp. 1651 - 1663
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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