"Self-consciousness and the Inter-subjective Body"

"Narcisse & Echo : Self-consciousness and the Inter-subjective Body"

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that bodily self-consciousness is subjectively and inter-subjectively constituted and that some dimensions of the bodily self-consciousness are impaired in Anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is a severe psychiatric disorder, with high level of mortality. Anorexic patients often experience a serious disturbance in body and their own shape perception.

We hypothesize that bodily self-consciousness is co-constituted by four subjective dimensions which are all inter-subjectively open: in encountering others, one's body is experienced as

1. objectified,
2. the bearer of inter-subjective feelings,
3. an inter-subjective agent and
4. the anchor of an inter-subjectively negotiated perspective.

Across several experiments, we sought to determine which dimension of bodily self-consciousness is altered in Anorexia Nervosa compared to healthy subjects.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women
• From 18 to 35 years old
• Understanding and being fluent in French
• Hospitalized or followed in consultation for Anorexia nervosa (Restrictive Anorexia or Purge according to the MINI)
• Informed consent signed by the patient
• Diagnosis of Anorexia according to her psychiatrist (and confirmed by the DSM IV) with a BMI between 11 and 18.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Somatic Pathology (cancer, cardiac, renal or respiratory insufficiency, central neurological affection), evolutionary, or risking to be life-threatening within less than year
• Neurological Histories (neurological pathology susceptible to alter attentionnal capacities or field of vision and vision of colors (Encephalitis, Degenerative Brain tumour (méningiome, gliome, astrocytome), Congenital Neurodegenerative Pathology, Multiple sclerosis, Amyotrophic side Hardening, Epilepsy)
• Neuroleptic or psychotropic Treatment in doses inferring a slumber, a disorder of the concentration
• Dyschromatopsie
• No insurance
• Comorbidity of psychiatric type