Distorted body image in women and men suffering from Anorexia Nervosa - a literature review

The aim of this article is to shed some light on the phenomenology of distorted body image in Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Even though body image disturbance has already been identified as one of the central components of AN (as evident in various diagnostic criteria, such as those of the DSM-5 or ICD-10), it still does not receive enough clinical attention in the therapeutic process. In this literature review, we will investigate empirical body of evidence addressing the relationship between distorted body image and AN pathology. Furthermore, the authors propose to introduce a Body Image Therapy programme to assist treatment as usual (TAU) in targeting AN psychopathology. Similar treatment programs have already been implemented in Great Britain and the USA. In Poland, however, little is known about Body Image Therapy. To improve the understanding of distorted body image in AN, the following topics are discussed: phenomenology and prevalence of distorted body image in AN psychopathology, its role in the aetiology and symptom maintenance of eating disorders, a neurobiological view on body image and recommended treatment options