title: Adjunctive graded body image exposure for eating disorders: A randomized controlled initial trial in clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Graded body image exposure is a key component of CBT for eating disorders (EDs). However, despite being a highly anxiety-provoking intervention, its specific effectiveness is unknown. The aims of this initial study were to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of individualized graded body image exposure to a range of feared/avoided body image-related situations in a sample of partially remitted ED patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five female adult participants were randomly assigned to maintenance treatment as usual (MTAU) only or MTAU plus five sessions of graded body image exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The graded body image exposure intervention led to large improvements in body avoidance as measured by two different methods. In addition, there was evidence of a significant impact of body image exposure on the overvaluation of shape, but not weight, 5 months after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, the current results provide evidence of the feasibility of adjunctive individualized graded body image exposure within a clinical treatment program and suggest that graded body image exposure reduces body avoidance behaviors in partially remitted ED patients. Our findings suggest that individualized graded body image exposure shows promise as an intervention targeting the overvaluation of shape in EDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Memorial University, St. Johns, Canada.
authors.forename: Jacqueline C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.|Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Danielle E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.|Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Traci
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Marion P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Olmsted
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CBT; body exposure; body image; eating disorders