Changes in body image following sensory deprivation in schizophrenic and control groups.

Abstract

This study concerns body image changes in schizophrenic and nonpsychotic groups following a sensory deprivation experience. 20 schizophrenics and 20 nonpsychotics were examined before and after a sensory deprivation period with a test battery assessing various aspects of body image. A control group of 20 schizophrenics was similarly tested and retested but with no period of sensory deprivation intervening. This latter group showed no change in any of the body image measures pre-to posttesting. However, the 2 experimental groups demonstrated a number of changes in body image following sensory deprivation, with schizophrenics evidencing a degree of reintegration and nonpsychotics more disintegration in body image.

Body‐image distortion and eating disorder: A reconceptualization based on the recent literature

“…This was based on the technique developed by Reitman and Cleveland (1964) and requires the individual to estimate the width of each body dimension by reference to the distance between two movable lights.…”

Experimental Investigations of Bodily Perception in Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity

“…These include projective techniques, questionnaires, rating scales and a few objective methods. For our purposes we decided to adopt a modified version of the visual size-estimation task by Reitman and Cleveland (1964). The technique involves the determina tion of 'real size' and 'perceived size', measured for various bodily widths.…”

Measuring Body Image

“…Bruch (1973) uses the interview method; Machover (1949) constructed the 'draw a person' test; Fisher and Cleveland (1968) use a special scoring of the Rorschach test to determine their penetration-boundary scores; embedded figure test, rod and frame and tilting chamber are used by Witkin and Oltman (1967) in determining field dependency versus indepen dency. Other measuring methods are: tactile size estimation task (Shontz, 1969) and visual size estimation test (Reitman and Cleveland, 1964). This last proce dure was applied by Slade and Russell (1973) when testing the postulate of Bruch (1973) about the distortion of body image in patients with anorexia nervosa and with obesity.…”