Attention Training and Its Effects on Body Image Disturbance
Attention Training and Its Effects on Body Image Disturbance
Research has consistently found attentional biases towards negative weight-related stimuli in
 individuals with eating disorders. It has been suggested that these biases may act as a
 vulnerability factor for the development and maintenance of body dissatisfaction and may
 therefore be an important target for intervention. Previous studies have demonstrated the
 capacity to modify the patterns of attention allocation to threatening stimuli in a variety
 of anxiety disorders, with a subsequent and sustained reduction in anxiety symptoms. Thus,
 the present study aimed at testing the efficacy of attention training in reducing attentional
 biases and eating disorder symptoms in individuals with elevated levels of body image
 disturbance and eating disorder symptomatology of clinical severity. Thirty-two participants
 were randomly allocated to receive eight sessions of a 10-minute computer task aimed at
 training their attention away from weight-related stimuli or a control placebo training
 condition. Results showed that participants in the attention training group had a
 significantly greater reduction in their attentional bias and body dissatisfaction from pre-
 to post-training relative to the placebo condition. At follow-up, both groups showed a
 significant decrease in body dissatisfaction from their pre-training levels. The only
 significant difference between groups in eating disorder symptoms at follow-up was in terms
 of the attention training group experiencing a greater reduction in weight and shape
 concerns.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  If they have a score on the Body Shape Questionnaire of 113 or more AND a score in the
 EDE-Q of 4 or more in any subscale.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  attention bias score of <-10