Shafran Roz, Robinson Paul
Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Br J Clin Psychol. 2004 Nov;43(Pt 4):399-408. doi: 10.1348/0144665042389008.
The aims of the present study were (1) to examine the association between a cognitive distortion ('thought-shape fusion') and eating disorder psychopathology and (2) to examine the degree of thought-shape fusion in people with eating disorders and a non-eating-disorder control group.
Associations between thought-shape fusion and eating disorder psychopathology were examined and the degree of thought-shape fusion was compared between people with and without clinical eating disorders.
Forty-two women with clinical eating disorders and a group of 42 age-matched women with no self-reported history of an eating disorder completed self-report questionnaires to assess thought-shape fusion, eating disorder symptoms, body checking and body avoidance, and depression.
Thought-shape fusion was significantly associated with eating disorder psychopathology. The majority of the associations remained significant when controlling for levels of depression. Patients with eating disorders showed significantly more thought-shape fusion than the non-clinical controls.
Thought-shape fusion is a cognitive distortion associated with eating disorders. It may be a direct expression of the overevaluation of eating, shape and weight. It is recommended that thought-shape fusion be tackled directly in cases where it is a barrier to changing the core psychopathology of eating disorders.
