title: Improving the post-meal experience of hospitalised patients with eating disorders using visuospatial, verbal and somatic activities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compares the effects of different cognitive tasks on post-meal negative affect, positive affect, intrusive thoughts and intrusive images of hospitalised patients with eating disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five participants were recruited from an eating disorder service. Using a within-subjects design, participants performed one of the following tasks for 15 min: the game 'Tetris' (visuospatial), a general knowledge 'Quiz' (verbal), 'Braille' translation (somatic) and 'Sitting Quietly' (control). In total, participants completed each task on three occasions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The visuospatial, verbal and somatic tasks had beneficial effects on all positive and negative indicators, when compared with 'Sitting Quietly'. Visuospatial and somatic tasks were more effective at reducing intrusive imagery than the verbal task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that certain engaging activities can help hospitalised patients with eating disorders manage the difficult post-meal period.
authors.affiliation: University College London, Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB UK.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.affiliation: St Ann's Eating Disorders Service, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.affiliation: University College London, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AR UK.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: University College London, Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB UK ; Eating Disorders Service, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serpell
keywords: Affect; Distraction; Eating disorders; Post-meal tasks