Regional cerebral blood flow patterns of change following the own body image exposure in eating disorders: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to see if the changes in the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) experienced by restrictive anorexia nervosa (AR) and bulimia nervosa (BN) patients, following the exposure to their own body image, persist at follow-up.


METHODS
Three single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed on nine patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of AR, 13 with BP, and 12 controls: at rest, following a neutral stimulus, and after exposure to their previously filmed whole body image. Body dissatisfaction was measured by means of the Body Dissatisfaction Questionnaire (BSQ). One year later the same assessment was repeated.


RESULTS
Following the exposure to their own body image, BN showed an increase in body dissatisfaction, which was associated with the increase in the rCBF of the Right Temporal Area. Those changes persisted at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
More specific long term therapies are needed for the treatment of the averse response showed by ED patients to their own body image exposure that is associated with the hyperactivation of the right temporal area when they are confronted with their whole body image.
Rodriguez-Cano
Teresa
T
Eating Disorders Unit, General Hospital of Ciudad Real, Spain.
Beato-Fernandez
Luis
L
Garcia-Vilches
Inmaculada
I
Garcia-Vicente
Ana
A
Poblete-Garcia
Victor
V
Soriano-Castrejon
Angel
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D055815:Young Adult