research
Experimental Psychopathology Head:Dr. Mar Russ-Calafel, Dr. Kathrin Schopf |
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Principal Investigator and Team
Prof. Dr. Silvia Schneider
Dr. Kathrin Schopf
Julia Lennertz, M.Sc.
Collaborator
Dr. Esther Biedert (University of Fribourg, Switzerland)
Nadine Humbel, M.Sc. University of Fribourg, Switzerland)
Funding
DFG (SCHN-415/4-1) SANS (Projekt #22-12)
Duration
Juni 2014 – August 2017
Description
BACKGROUND:
Repeated exposure to thin beauty ideals is part
of the daily routine. Exposure to thin ideals via mass media plays an
important role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs),
low self-esteem, depressive or anxious feelings in young females. It is
important to elucidate the circumstances under which exposure to thin ideals
develops its detrimental impact and to investigate whether these features
are more pronounced in EDs than in other mental disorders also related to
negative body image.
METHODS/ DESIGN:
We investigate the following key questions: (1)
Does laboratory induced exposure to thin ideals (waiting room design) relate
to impairments in terms of body image, affect and eating behavior and
biological stress response (salivary alpha-amylase, salivary cortisol, heart
rate and heart rate variability) in 18 to 35 year old female suffering from
anorexia and bulimia nervosa (AN, BN) compared to female healthy controls
and to a sample of females suffering from mixed mental disorders
(depression, anxiety and somatic symptom disorder (SSD) disorders)? (2) How
do moderators such as cognitive distortions ("Thought-Shape Fusion, TSF"),
and correlates of emotion regulation (ER) moderate the influence of the
exposure? (3) Are these characteristics amenable to change after treatment?
Altogether 250 female participants including patients with AN, BN,
depressive, anxiety and SSD disorders, and healthy women will be recruited
in Switzerland and Germany.
DISCUSSION:
The findings will provide knowledge about the
role of moderators influencing the effects of exposure to thin ideals
promoted by mass media in eating disorder (ED) patients, patients suffering
from mixed mental disorders and healthy controls. Evaluating their
differential susceptibility will contribute to a better understanding of the
role of negative body image in the maintenance of not only symptoms of ED,
but also of depression, anxiety and SSD. Additionally our results will shed
light on the stability of effects in healthy controls as well as in the
patient groups before and after treatment as usual. Findings foster the
development of tailored interventions including a training in specific ER
strategies as well as cognitive restructuring of distorted beliefs about the
own body when confronted with thin ideals.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00005709.
Date of registration: 6 February, 2014.