The use of virtual reality in the treatment of eating disorders

A high percentage of patients with eating disorders (ED) respond to treatments such as cognitive-behavioural therapy. However, some patients do not progress significantly with these treatments, or suffer relapses. The incorporation of new technologies may help to increase the efficacy of standard tr...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Ferrer, Marta (Ferrer García), Gutiérrez Maldonado, José
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2012
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/121160
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/121160
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Trastorns de la conducta alimentària
Teràpia d'exposició
Realitat virtual
Eating disorders
Exposure therapy
Virtual reality
Description
Summary:A high percentage of patients with eating disorders (ED) respond to treatments such as cognitive-behavioural therapy. However, some patients do not progress significantly with these treatments, or suffer relapses. The incorporation of new technologies may help to increase the efficacy of standard treatments. Virtual reality has been successfully used to treat body image disturbances in ED patients and seems a suitable technology for cue exposure therapy in this setting. We review the published literature and discuss the results.