title: Development of a VR Application for Binge Eating Treatment: Identification of Contexts and Cues Related to Bingeing Behavior in Spanish Italian Patients.
abstract: The objective of this study was to identify frequent situations and specific cues that produce the craving to binge in Spanish and Italian samples of patients with eating disorders (ED). There were two main aims: to assess transcultural differences in the contexts and cues that elicit food craving; and to develop valid, reliable VR environments for effective cue-exposure therapy (CET) for patients from both countries. Twenty-six Spanish and 75 Italian ED patients completed an ad hoc questionnaire to assess contexts and cues that trigger the craving to binge. No differences between groups were found. All patients reported experiencing higher levels of craving in the afternoon/early evening and in the late evening/night, between meals, when alone, and more frequently at the end of the week. Being in the dining room, the kitchen, the bedroom, the bakery and the supermarket were the specific situations that produced the highest levels of craving to binge. We used the questionnaire results to develop a virtual reality application for CET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments, Universitat de Barcelona.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrer-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments, Universitat de Barcelona.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments, Universitat de Barcelona.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pla
authors.affiliation: Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab., Istituto Auxologico Italiano.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Igualada General Hospital.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreu-Gracia
authors.affiliation: Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia.
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dakanalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Aranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forcano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Igualada General Hospital.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribas-Sabaté
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Riesco
authors.affiliation: Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments, Universitat de Barcelona.
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rus-Calafel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Germans Tries i Pujol.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Planell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D066249:Craving; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000076142:Virtual Reality