Cognitions and emotions in eating disorders

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Abstract

The cognitive model of eating disorders (eds) states that the processing of external and internal stimuli might be biased in mental disorders. These biases, or cognitive errors, systematically distort the individual’s experiences and, in that way, maintains the eating disorder. This chapter presents an updated literature review of experimental studies investigating these cognitive biases. Results indicate that ed patients show biases in attention, interpretation, and memory when it comes to the processing of food-, weight-, and body shape-related cues. Some recent studies show that they also demonstrate errors in general cognitive abilities such as set shifting, central coherence, and decision making. A future challenge is whether cognitive biases and processes can be manipulated. Few preliminary studies suggest that an attention retraining and training in the cognitive modulation of food reward processing might be effective strategies to change body satisfaction, food cravings, and eating behavior.keywordsattentionbody imagecentral coherencecognitive biascravingdecision-makingfood rewardinterpretationmemoryretrainingset shifting.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBehavioral Neurobiology of eating disorders
EditorsR.A.H. Adan, W.H. Kaye
Place of PublicationBerlin
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages17-33
ISBN (Print)9783642151309
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2011

Publication series

SeriesCurrent Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
Number6

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