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Mirror exposure for the treatment of body image disturbance
Author(s) -
Delinsky Sherrie Selwyn,
Wilson G. Terence
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20207
Subject(s) - dieting , eating disorders , psychology , context (archaeology) , disturbance (geology) , depression (economics) , body weight , session (web analytics) , bulimia nervosa , psychotherapist , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , weight loss , obesity , medicine , paleontology , macroeconomics , economics , biology , world wide web , computer science
Objective Body image disturbance is a risk factor for the development and persistence of eating disorders. Limitations of current treatments for body image disturbance prompted the development of a mirror exposure (ME) treatment. Method ME involves deliberate, planned, and systematic exposure to body image. The approach is nonjudgmental, holistic in focus, and mindful of present emotional experience. Complementary behavioral assignments aim to reduce avoidance and excessive checking. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of ME therapy (in a three‐session format) compared with a nondirective (ND) therapy for 45 women with extreme weight and shape concerns. Results ME resulted in significant improvements at termination and follow‐up in body checking and avoidance, weight and shape concerns, body dissatisfaction, dieting, depression, and self‐esteem. As hypothesized, ME was significantly better than ND on many of the outcome measures. Conclusion ME is an effective treatment for body image disturbance and should be evaluated in the context of treatments for eating disorders. © 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.