title: The concept of body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa: an empirical inquiry utilizing patients' subjective experiences.
abstract: We explored the concept body image disturbance (BID) by utilizing the subjective experience of 32 women (aged 20-39 years) diagnosed with AN (DSM-V). Using methods from Grounded Theory we identified four phenotypes of BID-"Integration," "Denial," "Dissociation," and "Delusion"-which differed according to whether the patients overestimated their own body size ("Subjective reality"), and whether they acknowledged the objective truth that they were underweight ("Objective reality"). The results suggest that BID should be conceptualized as a dynamic failure to integrate subjective experiences of one's own body appearance with an objective appraisal of the body. Conceptual, diagnostic and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. ester.espeset@c2i.net
authors.forename: Ester M S
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Espeset
authors.forename: Ragnfrid H S
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Nordbø
authors.forename: Kjersti S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Gulliksen
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Skårderud
authors.forename: Josie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires