Implicit approach-avoidance bias for body and food-related stimuli among individuals with anorexia nervosa in partial remission
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6005550 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Caroline Christian (0000-0001-7741-1498, University of Pittsburgh, corresponding author), Chloe M Hudson (University of Pittsburgh), Victoria E Bell (University of Pittsburgh), Andrea B Goldschmidt (0000-0003-1620-8300, University of Pittsburgh) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Pages | 101962 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Eating Behaviors (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1471-0153 • E-ISSN: 1873-7358 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2025.101962 |
| PMID | 40037025 |
| OpenAlex | W4408059037 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 19 |
Partial remission from anorexia nervosa (AN) is an understudied stage of illness, during which individuals experience improvements in behavioral/physical symptoms, but continue to experience cognitive/affective symptoms. Studying factors that may be related to recovery vs. relapse during partial remission is important given the relatively low rates of full remission in AN. Fear and avoidance of eating disorder-related stimuli are important maintaining factors in AN and require evaluation during this stage of remission. The current exploratory study ( N = 35 individuals with AN in partial remission) investigates implicit approach-avoidance bias for food and body stimuli using a computer-based, behavioral task. Participants on average had an avoidance bias for larger bodies, an approach bias for smaller bodies, and an avoidance bias for lower calorie foods. These findings suggest that implicit avoidance bias for larger bodies, but not higher-calorie foods, may be present during partial remission from AN. These results are consistent with current treatment models of AN, which prioritize behavioral and nutritional rehabilitation first, and persistent body image preoccupations later in treatment. Pending future research, step-down care and relapse prevention for AN during partial remission may benefit from targeting these body-related fear and avoidance biases. • Approach-avoidance biases are important to study across anorexia nervosa stages. • Participants with AN-PR had higher avoidance towards low- vs. high-calorie foods. • Participants had higher avoidance for larger bodies and approach for smaller bodies. • Future research in this area with larger samples and control groups is needed
Anorexia · Anorexia nervosa · Attentional bias · Cognition · Developmental psychology · Eating disorders · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Internal Medicine
The Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire
PsyToolkit
Ggplot2
Assessment of eating disorders
LmerTest Package
Explicit and implicit approach vs. avoidance tendencies towards high vs. low calorie food cues in patients with anorexia nervosa and healthy controls
Revealing motor insensitivity to food in Anorexia Nervosa as a potential mechanism contributing to calorie restriction
Automatic approach/avoidance tendencies towards food and the course of anorexia nervosa
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |