Dissonance-based eating disorder program reduces cardiac risk: A preliminary trial.
We conducted a randomized, controlled preliminary trial to examine the effect of a dissonance-based eating disorder program on eating disorder symptoms and cardiac risk indices in a community sample of women with subclinical and clinical symptoms (N = 47), examining the efficacy of the program in both the indicated prevention and treatment realms.



Eating disorder symptoms, body mass index, and biomarkers of cardiac risk were examined in dissonance and assessment-only control conditions at baseline, postintervention, and 2-month follow-up. Specifically, we assessed mean R wave amplitude, QT interval length, vagal tone (high frequency spectral power of heart rate variability), and sympathetic tone (low/high frequency spectral power ratio) via electocardiography (ECG) at each assessment period.



We predicted a statistically significant 2 (condition: control, dissonance) × 3 (time: baseline, postintervention, 2-month follow-up) interaction in the mixed factorial MANOVA results. Results confirmed this hypothesis. Eating disorder symptoms and cardiac risk indices decreased significantly among participants in the dissonance condition at postintervention and 2-month follow-up compared with baseline.



Results provide support for the efficacy of a dissonance-based program in the reduction of eating disorder symptoms and cardiac risk indices among women with subclinical and clinical eating disorder symptoms. Findings establish the efficaciousness of this dissonance-based approach in the indicated prevention and treatment realms and establish its efficacy in reducing cardiac risk indicators. (PsycINFO Database Record
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Melinda A
MA
Green
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Mary
M
Willis
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Kristen
K
Fernandez-Kong
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Shuhan
S
Reyes
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Ruby
R
Linkhart
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Molly
M
Johnson
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Tyler
T
Thorne
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa.
Emily
E
Kroska
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa.
Halley
H
Woodward
Cornell College Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Cornell College.
Jessica
J
Lindberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D004562:Electrocardiography; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult