‘The devil is in the detail’: Detail-focussed processing in Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa
Body dysmorphic disorder shares many features with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa. Previous research has found that people with anorexia nervosa show a tendency to focus on detailed features within visual images, and this means that they sometimes struggle to see ‘the bigger picture’. This is an important issue because a detailed-focussed processing style could fuel appearance concerns and poor body image. In this talk I will summarise our recent research looking at whether body dysmorphic disorder, like anorexia nervosa, is linked with this detailed-processing style. I will also discuss potential implications for treatment and recovery.
About Dr Georgina Krebs
Georgina is an Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor of Young People's Mental Health and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, at University College London. Her research interests include developing novel, evidence-based methods for delivering cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) in young people, and understanding factors that interfere with recovery in order to inform the development of new treatment approaches.
This talk was delivered live as part of OCD Action and The BDD Foundation's Joint Virtual Conference on Saturday 26th June 2021.