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Einsatz von virtueller Realität in der Behandlung von Körperbildstörungen

Systematisches Review

Use of virtual reality in the treatment of body image disorders

Systematic review

  • Schwerpunkt: Digitale Psychotherapie – Übersichten
  • Published:
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Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Virtuelle Welten bieten die Möglichkeit von realitätsnahem Erleben. Darüber hinaus können Erlebnisse besser kontrolliert und adjustiert werden als in der realen Welt. Diese Vorteile führen zu wachsenden Forschungsinteressen im Einsatz von virtueller Realität (VR) für die Psychotherapie und insbesondere für die Expositionsbehandlung. Erste Studien zur Wirksamkeit der VR-Behandlung von Körperbildstörungen liegen vor. Dennoch ist unklar, wie umfassend das gesamte Spektrum von Körperbildstörungen in diesem Zusammenhang untersucht wurde.

Methodik

Eine systematische Literatursuche zu Studien, die VR mit interventionellem Fokus einsetzen, wurde durchgeführt. Zielgruppen der VR-Exposition sollten klinische und subklinische Stichproben mit Anorexia nervosa (AN), Bulimia nervosa (BN), körperdysmorpher Störung, Körperunzufriedenheit oder Körperbildstörung sein.

Ergebnisse

Ausschließlich Studien zu AN, BN und subklinischer Körperunzufriedenheit mit überwiegend weiblichen Teilnehmenden wurden identifiziert. Die 5 Fallstudien und 5 randomisierte kontrollierte Studien zeigen positive Effekte der VR-Behandlung auf körperbildbezogene Maße und auf die Essstörungspathologie.

Diskussion

Insgesamt konnten nur wenige Studien gefunden werden. Neue technische Möglichkeiten der VR werden darin bislang nicht ausgeschöpft. Befunde zur Nutzung von VR in der Behandlung der körperdysmorphen Störung und des Subtyps der Muskeldysmorphie fehlen vollständig.

Abstract

Background

Virtual worlds provide the opportunity to create realistic experiences. Furthermore, experiences are more controllable and adjustable than in the real world. These advantages are the reason why research is increasingly interested in using virtual reality for psychotherapy and in particular for exposure treatment. First studies on the efficacy of virtual reality treatment of body image disorders are available. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how comprehensively the entire spectrum of body image disturbance has been investigated.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted for studies addressing virtual reality with a focus on interventions. Target groups for exposure to virtual reality were clinical and subclinical samples of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, body dysmorphic disorder, body dissatisfaction and body image disorder.

Results

Only studies on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and subclinical body dissatisfaction with mainly female participants could be identified. The five case reports and five randomized controlled studies showed a positive effect of virtual reality treatment on body image-related measures and eating disorder pathology.

Discussion

Overall, only a few studies could be found. New technical possibilities of virtual reality have so far not been exhausted. Findings on the use of virtual reality for the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and the subtype muscle dysmorphia are completely lacking.

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Förderung

Katrin Schoenenberg erhielt eine Förderung des Zentralen Forschungsfördertopfs der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal (zefft – 2019/3 vrkoerperbild).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Fakultät für Human- und Sozialwissenschaften, Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Gaußstr. 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Deutschland

    Katrin Schoenenberg, Marny Münnich & Alexandra Martin

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  1. Katrin Schoenenberg
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  2. Marny Münnich
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  3. Alexandra Martin
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Correspondence to Katrin Schoenenberg.

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Interessenkonflikt

K. Schoenenberg, M. Münnich und A. Martin geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Alle im vorliegenden Manuskript beschriebenen Untersuchungen wurden im Einklang mit nationalem Recht sowie gemäß der Deklaration von Helsinki von 1975 (in der aktuellen, überarbeiteten Fassung) durchgeführt.

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Schoenenberg, K., Münnich, M. & Martin, A. Einsatz von virtueller Realität in der Behandlung von Körperbildstörungen. Psychotherapeut 66, 431–438 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00278-021-00520-7

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