Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-06T17:27:12.473Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Measurement of Body Image Disturbances in Anorexia Nervosa

Experimental Comparison of Different Methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Manfred M. Fichter*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Nussbaumstrasse 7, 8000 Munich 2, Federal Republic of Germany and Psychosomatic Hospital Roseneck
Irmgard Meister
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 10, 8000 Munich 40, FRG
Hans-Joachim Koch
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Munich, Kaulbachstrasse 93, 8000 Munich 40, FRG
*
Correspondence

Abstract

Body image disturbances in anorexia nervosa patients have been assessed in an experimental study which dealt with the following issues: (1) Three different procedures for the assessment of body image disturbances were compared in a discriminant function analysis: (a) a Video Monitor Procedure, (b) the Movable Caliper Procedure and (c) the Image Marking Procedure. The Image Marking Procedure showed the best discrimination between groups. (2) Anorexia nervosa patients showed a statistically significant over-estimation as compared to the control group in the variables ‘waist’, ‘upper thigh’ and the compound measure ‘soft body parts', while they did not overestimate control variables (Kruskal-Wallis-Rank-Analysis of Variance). (3) A standard liquid meal of 240 Kal. had no statistically significant influence on the estimation of body width, irrespective of the amount of calories consumed and instruction given. Possibilities and limitations of various measurement procedures are discussed.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Dedicated to Professor Hanns Hippius, born 18 April 1925.

References

Allebeck, P., Hallberg, D. & Espmark, S. (1976) Body image—an apparatus for measuring disturbances in estimation of size and shape. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 20, 583589.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Psychiatric Association (1980) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM III). Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Askevold, F. (1975) Measuring body image: Preliminary report on a new method. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 20, 71111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bortz, J. (1979) Lehrbuch der Statistik für Sozialwissenschaftler. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruch, H. (1962) Perceptual and conceptual disturbances in anorexia nervosa. Psychosomatic Medicine, 24, 187194.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Button, E. J., Fransella, F. & Slade, P. D. (1977) A reappraisal of body perception disturbance in anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine, 7, 235243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crisp, A. H. & Kalucy, R. S. (1974) Aspects of the perceptual disorder in anorexia nervosa. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 47, 349361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feighner, J. P., Robins, E., Guze, S. B., Woodruff, R. A., Winokur, G. & Munoz, R. (1972) Diagnostic criteria for use in psychiatric research. Archives of General Psychiatry, 26, 5763.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fichter, M. M. & Keeser, W. (1980) Das Anorexia Nervosa Inventar zur Selbstbeurteilung (ANIS). European Archives of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 228, 6789.Google ScholarPubMed
Freeman, R. J., Thomas, C. D., Solyom, L. & Hunter, A. (1984) A modified video camera for measuring body image distortion: Technical description and reliability. Psychological Medicine, 14, 411416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Freeman, R. J., Thomas, C. D., Solyom, L. & Miles, J. E. (1983) Body image disturbances in anorexia nervosa: A reexamination and a new technique. In Anorexia Nervosa: Recent Developments in Research, (eds Darby, et al). New York: Alan R. Liss.Google Scholar
Fries, H. (1977) Studies on secondary amenorrhea, anorectic behavior and body image perception: Importance for the early recognition of anorexia nervosa. In Anorexia Nervosa (ed. Vigersky, R. A.). New York: Raven Press.Google Scholar
Garfinkel, P. E. & Garner, D. M. (1982) Anorexia nervosa: A multidimensional perspective. New York: Brunner/Mazel.Google Scholar
Garfinkel, P. E., Moldofsky, H. & Garner, D. M. (1979) The stability of perceptual disturbances in anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine, 9, 703708.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garner, D. M. & Garfinkel, P. E. (1981) Body image in anorexia nervosa: Measurement, theory and clinical implications. International Journal of Psychological Medicine, 11, 263284.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garner, D. M., Garfinkel, P. E., Stancer, H. C. & Moldofsky, H. (1976) Body image disturbances in anorexia nervosa and obesity. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38, 327336.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gottheil, E., Bakup, C. E. & Cornelison, F. S. Jr (1969) Denial and self-image confrontation. A case of anorexia nervosa. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 148, 238250.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hsu, L. K. G. (1982) Is there a disturbance in body image in anorexia nervosa? Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 170, 305307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meermann, R. (1983) Experimental investigation of disturbances in body image estimation in anorexia nervosa patients and ballet and gymnastics pupils. International Journal of Eating Disorder, 2, 91100.3.0.CO;2-Z>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (1959) Statistical Bulletin of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Vol. 4), 16.Google Scholar
Pierloot, R. A. & Houben, M. E. (1978) Estimation of body dimensions in anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine, 8, 317324.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slade, P. D. & Russell, G. F. M. (1973) Awareness of body dimensions in anorexia nervosa: Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Psychological Medicine, 3, 188199.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Strober, M., Goldenberg, I., Green, J. & Saxon, J. (1979) Body image disturbances in anorexia nervosa during the acute and recuperative phase. Psychological Medicine, 9, 695701.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Touyz, S. W., Beumont, P. J. V., Collins, J. K., McCabe, M. & Jupp, P. (1984) Body shape perception and its disturbance in anorexia nervosa. British Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 167171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.