Valentina Cardi1,2, Thomas Ward3, Viviana Aya4, Chiara Calissano3, Alistair Thompson3, Janet Treasure4. 1. Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, Italy. valentina.cardi@unipd.it. 2. Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. valentina.cardi@unipd.it. 3. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. 4. Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study assessed (1) the experience of the eating disorder voice in people with anorexia nervosa or in remission, and (2) the feasibility of creating and interacting with a computerised representation (i.e., avatar) of this voice. METHODS: Twenty-one individuals with anorexia nervosa and 18 individuals who were in remission participated in the study. They reported on the characteristics of their eating disorder voice and created a personalised avatar (a visual and auditory representation of the eating disorder voice), using a computerised software. Participants assessed closeness of match between the voice and the avatar, perceived distress and acceptability of re-exposure to the avatar. RESULTS: Patients felt less powerful than their eating disorder voice and unable to disregard the voice's commands. The experience of the voice was associated with negative, as well as some positive emotions, reflecting the prototypical ambivalence towards the illness. Individuals in remission had an opposite pattern of responses. They attributed only negative emotions to the voice, felt more powerful than the voice, and able to disregard its commands. Overall participants reported that there was a good match between the voice and the sound of the avatar. Patients expressed willingness to repeat exposure to the avatar. CONCLUSION: Individuals with anorexia can create personalised digital avatars representing the eating disorder voice and are willing to engage therapeutically with the avatar. The next step is to test the feasibility of repeated exposure to the avatar to address the power and distress associated with the eating disorder voice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.
PURPOSE: This study assessed (1) the experience of the eating disorder voice in people with anorexia nervosa or in remission, and (2) the feasibility of creating and interacting with a computerised representation (i.e., avatar) of this voice. METHODS: Twenty-one individuals with anorexia nervosa and 18 individuals who were in remission participated in the study. They reported on the characteristics of their eating disorder voice and created a personalised avatar (a visual and auditory representation of the eating disorder voice), using a computerised software. Participants assessed closeness of match between the voice and the avatar, perceived distress and acceptability of re-exposure to the avatar. RESULTS: Patients felt less powerful than their eating disorder voice and unable to disregard the voice's commands. The experience of the voice was associated with negative, as well as some positive emotions, reflecting the prototypical ambivalence towards the illness. Individuals in remission had an opposite pattern of responses. They attributed only negative emotions to the voice, felt more powerful than the voice, and able to disregard its commands. Overall participants reported that there was a good match between the voice and the sound of the avatar. Patients expressed willingness to repeat exposure to the avatar. CONCLUSION: Individuals with anorexia can create personalised digital avatars representing the eating disorder voice and are willing to engage therapeutically with the avatar. The next step is to test the feasibility of repeated exposure to the avatar to address the power and distress associated with the eating disorder voice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.
Authors: Kay Hampshire; Stephanie Tierney; Filippo Varese; Gillian Haddock; Saeideh Saeidi; John R E Fox Journal: Clin Psychol Psychother Date: 2020-05-26
Authors: Tom Kj Craig; Mar Rus-Calafell; Thomas Ward; Julian P Leff; Mark Huckvale; Elizabeth Howarth; Richard Emsley; Philippa A Garety Journal: Lancet Psychiatry Date: 2017-11-23 Impact factor: 27.083