{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T08:26:42Z","timestamp":1790756802474,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,9]],"date-time":"2017-07-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1499558400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Several lines of evidence suggest that Virtual Reality (VR) has a potential utility in eating disorders. The objective of this study is to review the literature on the use of VR in bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement for reporting systematic reviews, we performed a PubMed, Web of Knowledge and SCOPUS search to identify studies employing VR in the assessment and treatment of BN and BED. The following search terms were used: \u201cvirtual reality\u201d, \u201ceating disorders\u201d, \u201cbinge eating\u201d, and \u201cbulimia nervosa\u201d. From the 420 articles identified, 19 were selected, nine investigated VR in assessment and 10 were treatment studies (one case-report, two non-controlled and six randomized controlled trials). The studies using VR in BN and BED are at an early stage. However, considering the available evidence, the use of VR in the assessment of those conditions showed some promise in identifying: (1) how those patients experienced their body image; and (2) environments or specific kinds of foods that may trigger binge\u2013purging cycle. Some studies using VR-based environments associated to cognitive behavioral techniques showed their potential utility in improving motivation for change, self-esteem, body image disturbances and in reducing binge eating and purging behavior.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs7030043","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,10]],"date-time":"2017-07-10T11:05:31Z","timestamp":1499684731000},"page":"43","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":85,"title":["Virtual Reality as a Promising Strategy in the Assessment and Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder: A Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Marcele","family":"De Carvalho","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Pasteur, 250, Rio de Janeiro 22290-902, Brazil"},{"name":"LABPR, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22290-140, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thiago","family":"Dias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Eating Disorders and Obesity Group, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22290-140, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Monica","family":"Duchesne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Eating Disorders and Obesity Group, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22290-140, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2152-4669","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonio","family":"Nardi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LABPR, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22290-140, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6089-4400","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jose","family":"Appolinario","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Eating Disorders and Obesity Group, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22290-140, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,7,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0116820","article-title":"The Global Burden of Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Disorders: An Analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010","volume":"10","author":"Whiteford","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1575","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(13)61611-6","article-title":"Global burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010","volume":"382","author":"Whiteford","year":"2013","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"406","DOI":"10.1007\/s11920-012-0282-y","article-title":"Epidemiology of Eating Disorders: Incidence, Prevalence and Mortality Rates","volume":"14","author":"Smink","year":"2012","journal-title":"Curr. 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