Thought–shape fusion in anorexia nervosa: an experimental investigation

Radomsky, Adam S.; Silva, Padmal de; Todd, Gillian; Treasure, Janet; Murphy, Tara

doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(01)00085-7

Cited by 46 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…This phenomenon, in which imagining eating fattening foods leads individuals to feel fatter, and believe that they have gained weight and done something morally wrong, has been labeled as ''thought-shape fusion'' (TSF; Shafran et al 1999). This distortion is associated with eating disorder psychopathology (Shafran and Robinson 2004), is present in individuals with anorexia nervosa (Radomsky et al 2002), and is experienced to a greater degree in individuals with eating disorders (including bulimia nervosa and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified) than in a non-eating-disordered sample (Coelho et al 2008a). However, this distortion has also been induced in healthy young women by asking them to imagine eating fattening or high-caloric food (Coelho et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Distortions in Normal-Weight and Overweight Women: Susceptibility to Thought-Shape Fusion

2011

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Cognitive distortions may be implicated in difficulties with normalized eating. One specific distortion relevant to eating pathology is ''thought-shape fusion'' (TSF), in which just imagining eating high-caloric food leads individuals to feel fatter, and to perceive weight gain and moral wrong-doing. The current study investigated whether there are differential responses to TSF inductions in normal-weight versus overweight females. A total of 60 females participated, who were classified as either normalweight (n = 32) or overweight (n = 28). Participants were randomly assigned to either a TSF or a neutral induction condition, and their responses on TSF questionnaires were assessed. The results indicated that normal-weight individuals reported higher TSF levels after a TSF induction than a control induction, whereas there were no significant differences across conditions for overweight individuals. This suggests that normal-weight females were more susceptible to the TSF induction than were overweight females. The results are discussed in terms of possible differences between normal-weight and overweight females in self-regulation after food-cue exposure.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Distortions in Normal-Weight and Overweight Women: Susceptibility to Thought-Shape Fusion

2011

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“…The majority of experimental research on TSF has employed thoughts of food consumption to induce TSF [e.g. Radomsky et al, 2002;Coelho et al, 2008]. It seems that people need to be actively thinking about consuming food to experience TSF -mere exposure to high-caloric foods (such as a tray filled with chocolates, chips, and candy sitting beside participants) does not induce this phenomenon [Coelho et al, 2010].…”

Section: Which Stimuli Trigger Tsf (Nutrition Body Image-related Stimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AN [Radomsky et al, 2002]. It is therefore not yet possible to establish whether there are differences in TSF between patients with AN versus BN.…”

Section: Are There Differences Between Tsf In Different Subgroups Of mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Cognitive Factors in the Development and Maintenance of Eating Disorders the Concept of Thought Shape Fusion

2012

Verhaltenstherapie

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An Interview with Jennifer S. Coelhothat are thought to play a central role in ED, we will be able to elucidate the cognitive factors involved in the maintenance of ED, and in turn hopefully improve our current cognitive-behavioral treatments.Professor Coelho, currently the concept of thought-action fusion of Shafran et al. [1996] TSF, like thought-action fusion, occurs when individuals assume that mere thoughts increase the probability of feared events, and are morally equal to real behavior. TSF occurs specifically when thinking about eating high-caloric foods. People who experience TSF report believing that they have gained weight after they merely imagine eating high-caloric or 'fattening' foods, report feeling fatter after thinking about eating these foods, and also report feeling as though How did theories about the role of cognitive factors in ED develop since the 2 factors theory of Connors [1996]?Earlier models of ED, such as that put forth by Connors [1996], suggested that high levels of body dissatisfaction in combination with problems with self-regulation processes (e.g. affect regulation) increased vulnerability for ED. More recently, models of ED have evolved to include both cognitive and behavioral factors. For example, the transdiagnostic model of ED [Fairburn et al., 2003] suggests that ED symptoms develop as an interaction between cognitive factors (affect regulation, low self-esteem, over-evaluation of weight and shape, perfectionism), interpersonal factors, and behavioral factors (e.g. strict dieting). In the transdiagnostic model, over-evaluation of weight/shape represents one of the central cognitions in individuals with ED. Cognitive distortions in individuals with ED that are related to food/ weight/shape, such as TSF, represent a specific example of over-evaluation of weight/shape. By studying the processes To increase the efficacy of currently applied treatment interventions in eating disorders (ED) the role of cognitive factors, such as consistent, non-veridical and skewed thinking, becomes increasingly evident. Professor Jennifer Coelho is an important expert in the field of cognitive distortions in ED. Her research focuses on weight-and shape-related preoccupations such as the concept of Thought Shape Fusion (TSF) [Coelho et al., 2008]. This construct was developed according to the 'thought-action fusion' model in individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) [Shafran et al., 1996]. OCD patients often assume that the mere thought of an action is morally equal to the real behavior and increases the probability of the feared event. As such, OCD patients believe that thinking of hurting someone is as morally wrong as actually committing the act or that thinking of being involved in a car crash might increase the probability of a real accident. The interview was conducted by Professor Simone Munsch.

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“…Esta idea es coherente con la descripción de Rachman y Shafran (1999) sobre la importancia de las creencias disfuncionales de Fusión Pensamiento-Acción en pacientes con TA, creencias que a su vez se han asociado a la sintomatología obsesiva en estas pacientes (Radomsky et al, 2002). Finalmente, resulta destacable que la sintomatología compulsiva sea predicha por el IMC, además de por la presencia de estrategias de control ritualizadas características del TOC (comprobar, ordenar o limpiar).…”

Section: Referenciasunclassified

Obsesividad e intrusiones alimentarias en pacientes con trastornos alimentarios y en lapoblación general

Roncero¹,

Tordera²,

Belloch³

2010

RPPC

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Resumen: Los trastornos alimentarios (TA) y el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo (TOC) son entidades clínicas diferenciadas, aunque comparten elementos psicopatológicos comunes poco investigados. Nuestros objetivos son, primero, analizar en población general (n = 100) y personas con TA (n = 84) la relación entre síntomas TOC e intrusiones cognitivas de contenido alimentario, su impacto emocional, y las estrategias para controlarlas; segundo, examinar en qué medida los síntomas TOC predicen esas intrusiones. Los resultados muestran, en población general, asociaciones signifi cativas entre síntomas de TOC y frecuencia de intrusiones sobre ejercicio físico, consecuencias emocionales, valoraciones disfuncionales, y estrategias de control, que se mantienen tras controlar edad, índice de masa corporal, depresión, y ansiedad. En pacientes TA, las asociaciones con síntomas TOC única-mente se mantuvieron con consecuencias emocionales y valoraciones disfuncionales. Los resultados indican que las relaciones entre ambos trastornos se explican por la importancia otorgada a las experiencias cognitivas desagradables, y no tanto a la frecuencia con que las experimentan.Palabras clave: Trastornos alimentarios, intrusiones mentales, síntomas obsesivo-compulsivos. Osessionality and eating intrusions in patients with eating disorders and the general populationAbstract: Eating disorders (ED) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are different clinical entities, although they share psychopathological elements that have been insuffi ciently investigated. Our objectives are fi rstly to analyze, in patients with ED, relationship between OCD symptoms and cognitive intrusions with eating content, their emotional impact, and strategies for controlling them and, secondly, to examine to what extent OCD symptoms predict these intrusions in patients with ED. In the general population, results showed signifi cant associations between OCD symptoms and frequency of intrusions on physical exercise, emotional consequences, dysfunctional appraisals, and control strategies, which persisted after controlling for age, body mass index, depression, and anxiety. In ED patients, associations with OCD symptoms persisted only for emotional consequences and dysfunctional appraisals. These results indicate that the relationship between both disorders is explained by the importance that patients give to the unpleasant cognitive experiences, rather than by the frequency with which these are experienced.

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Thought–shape fusion in anorexia nervosa: an experimental investigation

Cited by 46 publications

References 15 publications

Cognitive Distortions in Normal-Weight and Overweight Women: Susceptibility to Thought-Shape Fusion

Cognitive Distortions in Normal-Weight and Overweight Women: Susceptibility to Thought-Shape Fusion

The Role of Cognitive Factors in the Development and Maintenance of Eating Disorders the Concept of Thought Shape Fusion

Obsesividad e intrusiones alimentarias en pacientes con trastornos alimentarios y en lapoblación general

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Thought–shape fusion in anorexia nervosa: an experimental investigation

Cited by 46 publications

References 15 publications

Cognitive Distortions in Normal-Weight and Overweight Women: Susceptibility to Thought-Shape Fusion

Cognitive Distortions in Normal-Weight and Overweight Women: Susceptibility to Thought-Shape Fusion

The Role of Cognitive Factors in the Development and Maintenance of Eating Disorders  the Concept of Thought Shape Fusion

Obsesividad e intrusiones alimentarias en pacientes con trastornos alimentarios y en lapoblación general

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The Role of Cognitive Factors in the Development and Maintenance of Eating Disorders the Concept of Thought Shape Fusion