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Body Size Estimation in Bulimia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Andrew M. Whitehouse*
Affiliation:
Current post: Clinical Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ)
Christopher P. L. Freeman
Affiliation:
Current post: Clinical Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ)
Annette Annandale
Affiliation:
Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Park, Edinburgh, EH10 5HF
*
Correspondence.

Abstract

Body size estimation was studied in 22 patients with bulimia and 20 normal controls. Two methods of body size estimation were used, a distorting television image method (DTIM) and the image marking method (IMM). The subjects estimated body size of a dummy as well as their own body on the DTIM. When estimating body size on the DTIM the bulimics overestimated and the controls underestimated, there being a significant difference between the two groups. There was no difference between the groups when estimating the size of the dummy. On the IMM a significant difference was found between the bulimic and control groups, the bulimics overestimating body size and the controls being more accurate. Marked directional effects were found with the DTIM. The two methods of body size estimation are compared.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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