Virtual reality in eating disorders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of virtual reality to assess facilitators and obstacles to healthy eating
IRAS ID
252910
Contact name
Valentina Cardi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to use virtual reality to assess the impact of specific psychotherapeutic techniques on eating -related attitudes and behaviours. One-hundred twenty adult participants (16 to 60 years old) will be invited to take part in this study, including patients with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or binge eating disorder (N=40), individuals with subclinical abnormal eating behaviours (N=40) and participants with no lifetime diagnosis of eating disorders (N=40). Participants will be recruited from King's College Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and from the community. Participants will be requested to complete an online survey to assess mood, eating behaviour and interpersonal functioning. Following the assessment, they will be invited in the laboratory (103 Denmark Hill, King's College London) and will be asked to experience some virtual reality scenarios including exposure to virtual food and specific narratives. Participants will be asked to rate fear of food and cravings one week following the virtual reality experiment, on the online platform. Findings will indicate which therapeutic techniques can result in positive eating behaviour change in participants with eating-related issues.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0853
Date of REC Opinion
5 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion