Virtual food exposure with positive mood induction or social support to reduce food anxiety in anorexia nervosa: A feasibility study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Aversive emotions toward food and the consequences of eating are at the core of anorexia nervosa. Exposure therapy is effective to reduce anxiety and avoidance toward feared stimuli. Based on the inhibitory learning framework, this study examined the feasibility to induce social support or positive mood to enhance the impact of a single session virtual food exposure on food-related anxiety in anorexia nervosa.

Method

One hundred and forty-five patients were randomized to: (1) virtual food exposure (i.e., baseline condition), (2) virtual food exposure plus positive mood induction (i.e., positive mood condition), or (3) virtual food exposure plus social support (i.e., social support condition). They completed self-report assessments of anxiety toward virtual foods, g

SUBMITTER: Natali L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11137760 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature