Anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder: A comparison of body image concerns and explicit and implicit attractiveness beliefs

A S Hartmann; J J Thomas; J L Greenberg; C M Elliott; N L Matheny; S Wilhelm

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.03.013

Anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder: A comparison of body image concerns and explicit and implicit attractiveness beliefs

Body Image. 2015 Jun:14:77-84. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.03.013. Epub 2015 Apr 28.

Authors

A S Hartmann¹, J J Thomas², J L Greenberg³, C M Elliott⁴, N L Matheny⁵, S Wilhelm⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: andrea.hartmann@uos.de.
² Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: jjthomas@mgh.harvard.edu.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: jlgreenberg@mgh.harvard.edu.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: celliott1@mgh.harvard.edu.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: matheny@psy.fsu.edu.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Simches Research Building, 2nd Floor, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: swilhelm@mgh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 25920044
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.03.013

Abstract

Although body image is central to the etiological models of anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder, studies comparing body image and beliefs about attractiveness between the disorders are rare. Sixty-nine individuals (anorexia nervosa: n=24, body dysmorphic disorder: n=23, healthy controls: n=22) completed self-report measures (body image and general psychopathology), diagnostic interviews, and Go/No-Go Association tasks measuring implicit associations. Compared to controls, both clinical groups exhibited greater negative body image, a more negative attitude toward their physical selves, and more dysfunctional coping strategies (ps<.001). Also, both clinical groups shared greater explicit beliefs about the importance of attractiveness (ps<.001). In addition to supporting previous research with regard to comparable body image disturbance, this study also showed that beliefs regarding the importance of appearance (e.g., "one must be attractive to be successful") might be a fruitful target for therapy across both disorders.

Keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Attractiveness beliefs; Body dysmorphic disorder; Body image disturbance; Coping strategies.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Anorexia Nervosa / diagnosis*
Anorexia Nervosa / psychology*
Anorexia Nervosa / therapy
Beauty*
Body Dysmorphic Disorders / diagnosis*
Body Dysmorphic Disorders / psychology*
Body Dysmorphic Disorders / therapy
Body Image*
Culture*
Female
Humans
Internal-External Control
Interview, Psychological
Male
Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
Reproducibility of Results
Young Adult