SUMMARY:
Researchers in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and at Laureate Institute for Brain Research have developed a method to measure body perception and body image distortions.
BACKGROUND:
Distortions in body image and body perception are key characteristics of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, as well as of body dysmorphic disorder. These disorders involve a misperception of the appearance of the body that causes great psychological distress and sometimes suicidal thoughts. Current methods for attempting to treat these disorders include psychotherapy to help correct beliefs and change behaviors, or medications. The field, however, lacks quantifiable measurements of body perception and body image distortion in order to both determine the degree of pathology and assess whether treatments are effective. Another population that experiences differences in experiences of their body is individuals with gender dysphoria; their internal, gender-identified body representation is incongruent with their current body. Yet, no clinical or research tool exists to capture and quantify the diverse experiences of one’s current body and one’s gender-identified body (which may be distinct from their current body), across a range of gender identities. In sum, there is a strong clinical need for improved tools for assessing body image.
INNOVATION:
Researchers at UCLA have developed a program to help patients and their treatment providers understand their body image perception. Somatomap 3D is a mobile tool that enables individuals to visually represent their perception of body-part sizes and shapes. A treatment provider can use Somatomap 3D to calculate differences between perceived measurements and actual patient body measurements to quantify the degree of distortion of their body perception. This can then be used to determine the severity of body image distortion, how it may change over time, and to measure the effects of treatments for body image distortions. In addition, in transgender populations who have gender dysphoria it can be used to represent their internalized, gender-identified body representation. Treatment providers can use this to quantify the degree of incongruence between individuals’ pre-treatment (cross-hormone and pre gender-affirming surgery) current bodies and their internalized, gender-identified bodies, and to follow the effects of treatments on their body congruence.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
- Body image disorders
- Eating disorders
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Transgender and nonbinary populations with gender dysphoria
ADVANTAGES:
- Quantifiable tool to measure body perception and body image
- Track patient perception of body image over time
- Can be done on a mobile device
- Provides in depth analysis across multiple body parts
RELATED MATERIALS:
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:
Method and tools for the treatment have been developed .