New research
The reliability of the videodistortion method for assessing body image disturbances in eating disorder patients
M. Probst, H. Vancoppenolle, W. Vandereycken, M. Goris
In the videodistortion method subjects are asked to reconstruct the exact sizes of their boby image as shown in a distorted form on a video screen. The reliability of this method (test-retest) is studied in anorexia nervosa patients and female students. Anorexics showed a clearly better test stability than control subjects. Significant differences were found in estimations departing from a widened (`fat') versus narrowed (`thin') image distortion. The findings will be discussed especially with regard to methodological problems.