title: Adjunctive mirror exposure for eating disorders: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: Mirror exposure therapy has proven efficacious in improving body image among individuals with shape/weight concerns and eating disorders. No randomized controlled trials have examined the effect of mirror exposure in a healthy-weight clinical sample of eating disordered individuals. The purpose of the current study was to test the efficacy of a five-session acceptance based mirror exposure therapy (A-MET) versus a non directive body image therapy (ND) control as an adjunctive treatment to outpatient eating disorder treatment. Thirty-three males and females aged 14-65 with a body mass index of 18.5-29.9 were randomized to five sessions of A-MET or ND with a 1-month follow-up. Results indicated large to moderate effect size differences for efficacy of A-MET across measures of body checking, body image dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms (d = -0.38 to -1.61) at end of treatment and follow-up. Baseline measures of social comparison and history of appearance-related teasing were predictive of treatment response. There were also differential effects of treatment on participants' perceived homework quality, but no differences in therapeutic alliance. Results suggest that A-MET is a promising adjunctive treatment for residual body image disturbance among normal and overweight individuals undergoing treatment for an eating disorder. Future research and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Eating and Weight Disorders Program, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. tom.hildebrandt@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loeb
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Troupe
authors.forename: Sherrie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delinsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult