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Cogodi E, Ranieri J, Martelli A, Di Giacomo D. Emotional Dysregulation in Anorexia Nervosa: Scoping Review of Psychological Treatments. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1388. [PMID: 39057531 PMCID: PMC11276072 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12141388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Eating disorders are complex psychiatric disorders characterized by compensatory and restrictive behavior and a preoccupation with one's body. Eating and purging behaviors are considered dysfunctional emotional regulation strategies. Therefore, psychological treatment is essential. The most common psychological interventions are dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy (FBT), multi-family group therapy (MFTG) and mentalization-based treatment (MBT). The aim of this study was to summarize the current evidence on the impact of psychological treatments on emotional regulation difficulties and psychological symptoms in patients with eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa. A search was conducted on PubMed and Web of Science using the terms "anorexia nervosa" and "emotion dysregulation". Of the 278 initial articles, we included 15 publications. The results indicate that the acquisition of coping strategies, through DBT, leads to an improvement in anxiety and alexithymia. DBT, CBT and MBT lead to a reduction in the use of dysfunctional emotional regulation strategies too. Eating disorders involve both physical and mental health; therefore, it is desirable for future research to focus on the mutual synergy between the mental and physical components by evaluating various factors, such as biomarkers and the most appropriate therapeutic approach, with respect to the treatment setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Cogodi
- Postgraduate in Clinical Psychology, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (E.C.); (J.R.)
| | - Jessica Ranieri
- Postgraduate in Clinical Psychology, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (E.C.); (J.R.)
- Life, Health and Environmental Sciences Department, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Alessandra Martelli
- Faculty of Biosciences and Agri-Food and Environmental Technologies, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Dina Di Giacomo
- Life, Health and Environmental Sciences Department, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
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Gagliardini G, Pandolfi G, Colli A. Attachment, Mentalization, Emotion Dysregulation, and Empathy in Eating Disorders: Comparing Anorexic and Bulimic Patients. J Nerv Ment Dis 2024; 212:370-377. [PMID: 38704653 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Eating disorders (EDs) represent a wide range of clinical symptoms related to food intake, body image, and weight issues, and include anorexia nervosa-restricting type (AN-R), anorexia nervosa-binge-purge type (AN-BP), and bulimia nervosa (BN). The aim was to investigate the characteristics of attachment, mentalization, emotion dysregulation, and empathy in a sample of 102 patients with EDs. A sample of 102 patients and therapists completed a series of measures for the assessment of ED pathology, mentalization, empathy, and emotion dysregulation. Pearson correlations and analysis of variance were used to test the characteristics of the variables among the groups. In relation to attachment and emotion dysregulation, no significant differences were found. In relation to mentalization, significant difference in good mentalization was found in AN-R subtype compared with the BN subtype. In relation to empathy, results showed significantly lower scores in BN subtype on affective empathy compared with the AN-BP subtype, and in AN-R subtype on cognitive empathy. Finally, we used Z -scores for each item ranked by value (higher to lower) to develop different clinical prototypes for each group. Our results point toward the clinical need to address the assessed variables, specifically mentalization, emotion dysregulation, and empathy, in the diagnosis and treatment of EDs.
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Zeeck A, Lau I, Endorf K, Schaefer L, Euler S, Lahmann C, Hartmann A. Mentalizing in psychotherapeutic processes of patients with eating disorders. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1367863. [PMID: 38707623 PMCID: PMC11067051 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1367863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Improvement in the capacity to mentalize (i.e., reflective functioning/RF) is considered both, an outcome variable as well as a possible change mechanism in psychotherapy. We explored variables related to (in-session) RF in patients with an eating disorder (ED) treated in a pilot study on a Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) - oriented day hospital program. The research questions were secondary and focused on the psychotherapeutic process: What average RF does the group of patients show in sessions and does it change over the course of a single session? Are differences found between sections in which ED symptomatology is discussed and those in which it is not? Does RF increase after MBT-type interventions? Methods 1232 interaction segments from 77 therapy sessions of 19 patients with EDs were rated for RF by reliable raters using the In-Session RF Scale. Additionally, content (ED symptomatology yes/no) and certain MBT interventions were coded. Statistical analysis was performed by mixed models. Results Patients showed a rather low RF, which increased on average over the course of a session. If ED symptomatology was discussed, this was associated with significantly lower RF, while MBT-type interventions led to a significant increase in RF. Conclusions Results suggest that in-session mentalizing can be stimulated by MBT-typical interventions. RF seems to be more impaired when disorder-specific issues are addressed. Further studies have to show if improving a patient´s ability to mentalize their own symptoms is related to better outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almut Zeeck
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Inga Lau
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Katharina Endorf
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Laura Schaefer
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Sebastian Euler
- Department of Consultation Psychiatry and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Claas Lahmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Armin Hartmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Center for Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Luyten P, Campbell C, Moser M, Fonagy P. The role of mentalizing in psychological interventions in adults: Systematic review and recommendations for future research. Clin Psychol Rev 2024; 108:102380. [PMID: 38262188 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Mentalizing is the human capacity to understand actions of others and one's own behavior in terms of intentional mental states, such as feelings, wishes, goals and desires. Mentalizing is a transtheoretical and transdiagnostic concept that has been applied to understanding vulnerability to psychopathology and has attracted considerable research attention over the past decades. This paper reports on a pre-registered systematic review of evidence concerning the role of mentalizing as a moderator and mediator in psychological interventions in adults. Studies in adults were reviewed that address the following questions: (a) does pre-treatment mentalizing predict treatment outcome; (b) do changes in mentalizing across treatment predict outcome; (c) does adherence to the principles or protocol of mentalization-based treatment predict outcome; and (d) does strengthening in-session mentalizing impact the therapeutic process via improved alliance, alleviated symptoms, or improved interpersonal functioning? Results suggest that mentalizing might be a mediator of change in psychotherapy and may moderate treatment outcome. However, the relatively small number of studies (n = 33 papers based on 29 studies, totaling 3124 participants) that could be included in this review, and the heterogeneity of studies in terms of design, measures used, disorders included, and treatment modalities, precluded a formal meta-analysis and limited the ability to draw strong conclusions. Therefore, theoretical and methodological recommendations for future research to improve the quality of existing research in this area are formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Luyten
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Pobox 3722, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK.
| | - Chloe Campbell
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Max Moser
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Peter Fonagy
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 7HB, UK
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Sarig-Shmueli Y, Kurman J, Talmon S, Yoeli N, Gur E, Stein D, Rothschild-Yakar L. Mentalizing ability, mentalizing impairments, and anorexia nervosa: Validation of the Hebrew version of the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC). Clin Psychol Psychother 2023; 30:873-881. [PMID: 36869582 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to validate the Hebrew version of the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC)-an ecological measure for assessing mentalizing ability-among patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and healthy individuals. We examined the validity of the MASC's general mentalizing ability scale and of its mentalizing impairments subscales using validated measures of mentalizing ability (Reading the Mind in the Eyes test, Cambridge Mindreading Face-Voice Battery, and Reflective Function questionnaire) among female patients with AN (N = 35) and control participants (N = 42). ED symptoms were assessed via self-report questionnaires. The MASCHeb correlated with measures of mentalizing ability and was found to significantly differentiate patients with AN from controls. In addition to differing on general mental ability, the groups differed on hypomentalizing (but not hypermentalizing). Based on our findings, the MASCHeb proved to be an ecologically valid tool for assessing mentalizing ability and impairments among patients with AN. Moreover, our findings demonstrated the role played by general mentalizing ability in EDs and specifically pointed to the importance of hypomentalization in EDs. These findings have therapeutic implications, as outlined in the Discussion section.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jenny Kurman
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shira Talmon
- Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Eitan Gur
- Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Daniel Stein
- Sheba Medical Center, Safra Children's Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Stalujanis E, Zeeck A, Euler S. Mentalisieren und Mentalisierungsbasierte Therapie (MBT) bei Essstörungen. PDP - PSYCHODYNAMISCHE PSYCHOTHERAPIE 2023. [DOI: 10.21706/pdp-22-1-27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
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Zeeck A. Psychodynamisch orientierte (teil-)stationäre Behandlung von Essstörungen. PDP - PSYCHODYNAMISCHE PSYCHOTHERAPIE 2023. [DOI: 10.21706/pdp-22-1-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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Zeeck A, Taubner S, Gablonski TC, Lau I, Zipfel S, Herzog W, Wild B, Friederich HC, Resmark G, Giel K, Teufel M, Burgmer M, Dinkel A, Herpertz S, Löwe B, Tagay S, von Wietersheim J, De Zwaan M, Zettl M, Meier AF, Hartmann A. In-Session-Reflective-Functioning in Anorexia Nervosa: An Analysis of Psychotherapeutic Sessions of the ANTOP Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:814441. [PMID: 35677868 PMCID: PMC9169151 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.814441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous research suggests that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) show an impaired capacity to mentalize (reflective functioning, RF). RF is discussed as a possible predictor of outcome in psychotherapeutic processes. The study aimed to explore RF in sessions of patients with AN and its association with outcome and type of treatment. METHODS A post-hoc data analysis of selected cases from a randomized trial on outpatient psychotherapy for AN was conducted. Transcripts from 84 sessions of 28 patients (early phase, middle phase, and end of treatment) were assessed using the In-Session-Reflective-Functioning-Scale [14 cognitive-behavior therapy, enhanced (CBT-E); 14 focal psychodynamic therapy (FPT); 16 with good, 12 with poor outcome after 1 year]. Relations between the level of RF, type of treatment, and outcome were investigated using mixed linear models. Additionally, associations with depressive symptoms, weight gain, and therapeutic alliance were explored. RESULTS Mean in-session RF was low. It was higher in FPT when compared to CBT-E treatments. The findings point to an association between RF increase and a positive outcome. An increase in BMI in the first half of treatment was associated with higher subsequent in-session RF. There was no association between RF and depressive symptoms or the therapeutic alliance. DISCUSSION Patients with AN show a low capacity to mentalize in sessions, which seems to be at least partly dependent on the degree of starvation. The results suggest a possible relationship between an increase in in-session RF and outcome, which has to be replicated by further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almut Zeeck
- Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Svenja Taubner
- Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Institute for Psychosocial Prevention, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thorsten C Gablonski
- Department for Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Institute for Psychology, University of Klagenfurth, Klagenfurth, Austria
| | - Inga Lau
- Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Stephan Zipfel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Herzog
- Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beate Wild
- Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Christoph Friederich
- Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gaby Resmark
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Katrin Giel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Martin Teufel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Markus Burgmer
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Andreas Dinkel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Herpertz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Clinic, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Bernd Löwe
- Department for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sefik Tagay
- TH Köln, University of Applied Sciences, Köln, Germany
| | - Jörn von Wietersheim
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martina De Zwaan
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Max Zettl
- Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Institute for Psychosocial Prevention, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander F Meier
- Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Armin Hartmann
- Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine und Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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