Modifications of body-image induced by virtual reality.
In contrast to the great number of publications on body image, only a few papers have focused on the treatment of a disturbed body image. In general, two direct and specific approaches are usually used, a cognitive/behavioural therapy to influence patient's feelings of dissatisfaction and a visuomotor therapy with the aim of influencing bodily awareness. The aim of this study was both to develop a virtual reality environment integrating the two approaches and to test its efficacy on a nonclinical sample of 24 women. Before and after a 10-min. virtual experience all the subjects made ratings on the Figure Rating Scale and the Contour Drawing Rating Scale. Analysis showed a significant reduction in body dissatisfaction without any major side effect.
Riva
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Applied Technology for Neuropsychology Laboratory, Centro Auxologico Italiano, Intra Verbania, Italy. auxo.psylab@auxologico.inet.it
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001824:Body Constitution; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010469:Perceptual Distortion; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012649:Self Concept; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014796:Visual Perception