Modifications of body-image induced by virtual reality

Percept Mot Skills. 1998 Feb;86(1):163-70. doi: 10.2466/pms.1998.86.1.163.

Abstract

In contrast to the great number of publications on body image, only a few papers have focused on the treatment of a disturbed body image. In general, two direct and specific approaches are usually used, a cognitive/behavioural therapy to influence patient's feelings of dissatisfaction and a visuomotor therapy with the aim of influencing bodily awareness. The aim of this study was both to develop a virtual reality environment integrating the two approaches and to test its efficacy on a nonclinical sample of 24 women. Before and after a 10-min. virtual experience all the subjects made ratings on the Figure Rating Scale and the Contour Drawing Rating Scale. Analysis showed a significant reduction in body dissatisfaction without any major side effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Behavior Therapy
  • Body Constitution*
  • Body Image*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Perceptual Distortion*
  • Psychotherapy
  • Self Concept
  • User-Computer Interface*
  • Visual Perception