Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experiential cognitive therapy in anorexia nervosa

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper details the characteristics of Experiential Cognitive Therapy (ECT), a relatively short-term, integrated, patient-oriented approach that focuses on individual discov ery. Its novelty is the use of Virtual Reality, a new technology that could play an importan role in clinical psychology, since it enables ECT to address both body experience distur bances and motivation for change, two key topics in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Al the phases of ECT are described with reference to an actual clinical case: a 22-year-old female anorectic patient.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  1. Riva G., Bacchetta M., Baruffi M., Rinaldi S., Molinari E.: Experiential Cognitive Therapy: a VR based approach for the assessment and treatment of eating disorders. In: Riva G., Wiederhold B., Molinari E. (Eds.) Virtual environments in clinical psychology and neuroscience: Methods and techniques in advanced patient-therapist interaction. Amsterdam, IOS Press, 1998, pp. 120–135.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mizes J.S.: Neglected topics in eating disorders: guidelines for clinicians and researchers. Clin. Psychol. Rev., 18, 387–390, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Riva G. (Ed.) Virtual reality in neuro-psychophysiology: Cognitive, clinical and methodological issues in assessment and rehabilitation. IOS Press, Amsterdam, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Sadowsky J., Massof R.W.: Sensory engineering: the science of synthetic environments. John Hopkins APL Technical Digest, 15, 99–109, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Riccio G.E.: Coordination of postural control and vehicular control: Implications for multimodal perception and simulation of selfmotion. In: Peter Hancock J.M.F.J.C.K.J.V. (Ed.) Local applications of the ecological approach to human machine systems, Vol. 2. Resources for ecological psychology, Hillsdale, Lawrence Erlbaurn Associates, Inc, 1995, pp. 122–181.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kennedy R.S., Stanney K.M.: Postural instability induced by virtual reality exposure: Development of a certification protocol. International Journal of Human Computer Interaction, 8, 25–47, 1996.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Wickens C.D., Baker P.: Cognitive issues in virtual reality. In: Woodrow Barfield T.A.F., III (Ed.) Virtual environments and advanced interface design. New York, Oxford University Press, 1995, pp. 514–541.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cioffi G.: Le variabili psicologiche implicate in un’esperienza virtuale [Psychological variables that influence a virtual experience]. In: Belotti G. (Ed.) Del Virtuale [Virtuality]. Milano, Il Rostro, 1993, pp. 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Riva G., Melis L.: Virtual reality for the treatment of body image disturbances. In: Riva G. (Ed.) Virtual reality in neuro-psycho-physiology: Cognitive, clinical and methodological issues in assessment and rehabilitation. Amsterdam, IOS Press, 1997, pp. 95–111.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Baars B.J.: A cognitive theory of consciousness. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Riva G.: The virtual environment for bodyimage modification (VEBIM): Development and preliminary evaluation. Presence, 6, 106–117, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Riva G.: Virtual Reality vs Virtual Body: The use of virtual environments in the treatment of body experience disturbances. Cyber — Psychology & Behavior, 1, 129–137, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Riva G.: Modifications of body image induced by virtual reality. Percept. Mot. Skills, 86, 163–170, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Vitousek K., Watson S., Wilson G.T.: Enhancing motivation for change in treatment-resistant eating disorders. Clin. Psychol. Rev., 18, 391–420, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Riva G.: Virtual reality in psychological assessment: The Body Image Virtual Reality Scale. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1, 37–44, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Miller W.R., Rollnick S.: Motivational interviewing: Preparing people to change addictive behavior. New York, Guilford Press, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Schlundt D.G., Johnson W.G.: Eating Disorders: assessment and treatment. Needham Heights, Allyn and Bacon, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Butters J.W., Cash T.F.: Cognitive-behavioral treatment of women’s body image satisfaction: A controlled outcome-study. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol., 55, 889–897, 1987.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Wooley S.C., Wooley O.W.: Intensive outpatient and residential tratment for bulimia. In: Garner D.M., Garfinkel P.E. (Eds.) Handbook of psychotherapy for anorexia and bulimia. New York, Guilford Press, 1985, pp. 120–132.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Leuner H.: Guided affective imagery: a method of intensive psychotherapy. Am. J. Psychother., 23, 4–21, 1969.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Butcher J.N., Williams C.L.: Essentials of MMPI-2 and MMPI-A interpretation. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Garner D.M.: EDI 2. Eating Disorders Inventory-2. Firenze, Organizzazioni Speciali, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Riva G., Molinari E.: Factor structure of the Italian version of the Body Satisfaction Scale: A multisample analysis. Perceptual Mot. Skills, 86, 1083–1088, 1998.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Slade P.D., Dewey M.E., Newton T., Brodie D., Kiemle G.: Development of the Body Satisfaction Scale (BSS). Psychology and Health, 4, 213–226, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Riva G., Molinari E.: Replicated factor analysis of the Italian version of the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire. Percept. Mot. Skills, 86, 1071–1074, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rosen J.C., Srebnik D., Saltzberg E., Wendt S.: Development of a Body Image Questionnaire. Psychological Assessment, 1, 32–37, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Thompson J.K., Altabe M.N.: Psychometric qualities of the Figure Rating Scale. Int. J. Eating Disorders, 10, 615–619, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Thompson M.A., Gray J.J.: Development and validation of a new body image assessment scale. J. Pers. Assess., 2, 258–269, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Keeton W.P., Cash T.F., Brown T.A.: Body image or body images: comparative, multidimensional assessment among college students. J. Pers. Assess., 54, 213–230, 1990.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. APA: DSM IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC, APA, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Pike K.M., Loeb K., Vitousek K.: Cognitivebehavioral therapy for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In: Thompson J.K. (Ed.) Body image, eating disorders and obesity, Washington, DC, APA — American Psycho — logical Association, 1996, pp. 253–302.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Robin L.A., Gilroy M., Baker Dennis A.: Treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Clin. Psychol. Rev., 18, 421–446, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Crow S.J., Mitchell J.E.: Pharmacologic treatments for eating disorders. In: Thompson J.K. (Ed.) Body image, eating disorders and obesity, Washington, DC, APA — American Psychological Association, 1996, pp. 345–362.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Gwirtsman H.E., Guze B.H., Yager J., Gainsley B.: Fluoxetine treatment of anorexia nervosa: an open clinical trial. J. Clin. Psychiatry, 51, 378–382, 1990.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Prochaska J.O., DiClemente C.C.: Stages and processes of self-change in smoking toward an integrative model of change. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol., 5, 390–395, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Cooper M., Fairburn C.: Thoughts about eating, weight and shape in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Behav. Res. Ther., 30, 501–511, 1992.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Cooper M., Clark D., Fairburn C.: An experimental study of the relationship between thoughts and eating behaviour in bulimia nervosa. Behav. Res. Ther., 31, 749–757, 1993.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servizio di Psicologia Clinica, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Verbania, Italy

    S. Rinaldi & E. Molinari

  2. Laboratorio Sperimentale di Ricerche Psicologiche, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milano, Italy

    Giuseppe Riva Ph.D., M. Bacchetta, M. Baruffi & E. Molinari

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Riva Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Bacchetta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Baruffi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Rinaldi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. Molinari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Riva, G., Bacchetta, M., Baruffi, M. et al. Experiential cognitive therapy in anorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord 3, 141–150 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03340002

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03340002

Key words

Search

Navigation