Research Spotlight: Eating Disorders
Staying current with psychological research and best practice is essential for delivering effective care. Our ‘Research Spotlight’ articles offer clear summaries of recent studies, helping you stay informed.
What role do early life experiences play in eating disorders?
What role do early life experiences play in the development of eating disorders? To address this question, a recent study explored the relationship between perceived parenting, temperament, early maladaptive schemas, and eating disorder symptoms. The findings revealed a direct linear pathway: maladaptive parenting predicted temperament, which in turn predicted maladaptive schemas, which ultimately influenced eating disorder symptoms. These results not only support the schema therapy model, but also offer valuable insights for tailored treatment approaches for eating disorders.
“When treating patients with eating disorders, psychologists and other health professionals should consider individual differences in perceived parenting style, temperament, and early maladaptive schema levels and how these may impact the way an eating disorder manifests… More specifically, understanding the interplay of factors that contribute to the development of an eating disorder can potentially counteract the sense of personal shame and inadequacy that is often associated with a diagnosis.”
Joshua, P. R., Lewis, V., Simpson, S., Kelty, S. F., & Boer, D. P. (2024). What role do early life experiences play in eating disorders? The impact of parenting style, temperament and early maladaptive schemas. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 31(1), e2904.
Mechanisms Underlying “Feeling Fat” in Women With and Without Binge Eating
“Feeling fat” is a common experience among people with eating disorders. This study explored two mechanisms underlying feelings of fatness: negative emotions being directed onto the body (the body displacement hypothesis) and thought-shape fusion (TSF). Consistent with TSF, the results showed that imagining eating fattening foods increased self-reported “feeling fat” in those with binge eating, while negative emotions did not trigger this sensation. In addition, heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of emotion regulation, did not significantly change, suggesting that it may not be a useful marker for feelings of fatness. These findings challenge traditional theories that link “feeling fat” primarily to negative emotions, suggesting that TSF might be a more relevant factor. Cognitive interventions targeting TSF may offer new directions for treating eating disorders.
Mehak, A., Wilson, S., & Racine, S. E. (2024). A Psychophysiological Investigation of Mechanisms Underlying “Feeling Fat” in Women With and Without Binge Eating. International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy versus compassion-focused therapy for adult patients with eating disorders
In this trial comparing cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and compassion-focused therapy for eating disorders (CFT-E), both treatments led to significant reduction in eating pathology, with CFT-E showing superior maintenance of benefits for patients with childhood trauma histories at one-year follow-up. The study’s low attrition rates highlight the acceptability and feasibility of both approaches, particularly among severely symptomatic patients. While CBT remains a cornerstone treatment, the findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions for specific patient subgroups and suggest that CFT-E might be helpful in addressing the complex needs of individuals with trauma histories. Accordingly, therapists may find value in exploring the role of self-compassion in long-term treatment outcomes for this population.
Vrabel, K. R., Waller, G., Goss, K., Wampold, B., Kopland, M., & Hoffart, A. (2024). Cognitive behavioral therapy versus compassion focused therapy for adult patients with eating disorders with and without childhood trauma: A randomized controlled trial in an intensive treatment setting. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 174, 104480.
