Approach biases to food cues amongst an eating disorder population V8
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Approach biases to food cues amongst an eating disordered population: associations with bingeing and restrictive symptomatology
IRAS ID
195737
Contact name
Charlotte Hardman
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aims of the research are to explore approach biases to food cues within an eating disordered population relative to controls. Approach biases are measured by a computer task called the Stimulus Response Compatibility task (SRC task) which requires participants to move an on screen manikin either towards or away from a picture on a computer screen (dependent on the instructions), which is either the target or neutral stimuli. In the case of this research the target stimuli will be food (either high or low calorie) and the neutral stimuli will be pictures of cups. An approach bias is typically detected when a participant displays faster reaction times towards the ‘target stimulus’ rather than the ‘neutral stimulus’.
Studying approach biases is important, as current diagnostic labels are largely descriptive and not helpful in determining individualised interventions. If we therefore know more about approach biases, it may give us a better understanding of the thinking underlying implicit choices made in relation to food cues.Recruitment: Participants will be recruited from two eating disorder services and a university, aged over 18 years and female. Those from the community sample will also have a healthy BMI and no reported eating disorder.
Procedure: All participants will complete questionnaires measuring restricting and bingeing symptomatology which have been validated in this population. They SRC task will then be completed and reaction times recorded.
Hypotheses: It is expected that those scoring higher on the bingeing scale will show a greater approach bias to high-calorie food stimuli. Those scoring higher on the restricting scale, will show the opposite effect and will be quicker to avoid high calorie food, also known as an avoidance bias. It is expected that the patterns described above will be present in both populations, however, will be more evident in the eating disorder group.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
16/WA/0020
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion