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Verschueren M, Claes L, Palmeroni N, Raemen L, Moons P, Bruckers L, Molenberghs G, Dierckx E, Schoevaerts K, Luyckx K. Identity Functioning in Patients with an Eating Disorder: Developmental Trajectories throughout Treatment. Nutrients 2024; 16:591. [PMID: 38474720 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing research has indicated a strong association between identity functioning and eating disorder (ED) symptomatology. However, a detailed investigation of identity throughout ED treatment is lacking. The present longitudinal study examined identity in inpatients with an ED and explored its simultaneous change with ED symptomatology throughout treatment. A total of 225 female patients completed questionnaires at admission. From these 225 patients participating at admission (Wave 1), 110 also participated in at least one additional measurement wave, with 43.64% (n = 48) participating at admission and during treatment, 16.36% (n = 18) participating at admission and at discharge, and 40% (n = 44) participating at admission, during treatment and at discharge. Questionnaires on identity synthesis, identity confusion, identity processes, and ED symptomatology were completed. Latent growth curve modeling was used to address the research questions. Throughout treatment, a decrease in identity confusion and an increase in identity synthesis and adaptive identity processes were found. Accordingly, increases in identity synthesis and identification with commitment were related to general decreases in the drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction. Similarly, such decreases in ED symptoms were related to general decreases in identity confusion and ruminative exploration. The present study points to an increase in identity functioning throughout treatment, and longitudinal associations between identity functioning and ED symptomatology were found. Helping patients to decrease their ruminative exploration and to increase their identification with previously made life commitments and treating body/weight concerns could both be helpful in ED treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laurence Claes
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Nina Palmeroni
- Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum KU Leuven, 3070 Kortenberg, Belgium
| | - Leni Raemen
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philip Moons
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- I-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Geert Molenberghs
- I-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- I-BioStat, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Dierckx
- Psychiatric Hospital Alexianen Zorggroep Tienen, 3300 Tienen, Belgium
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Koen Luyckx
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Child & Youth Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Educational Unit for Professional Training and Service in the Behavioural Sciences (UNIBS), University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
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Castellini G, Cassioli E, Rossi E, Mancini M, Ricca V, Stanghellini G. Bridging cognitive, phenomenological and psychodynamic approaches to eating disorders. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:2273-2289. [PMID: 35179727 PMCID: PMC9556383 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-022-01379-6] [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: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive, psychodynamic, and phenomenological scholars converged their attention on abnormal bodily phenomena as the core psychopathological feature of eating disorders (EDs). While cognitive approaches focus their attention on a need for "objective" (i.e., observable, measurable) variables (including behaviours and distorted cognitions), the phenomenological exploration typically targets descriptions of persons' lived experience. According to a new emerging phenomenological perspective, the classic behavioural and cognitive symptoms of EDs should be considered as epiphenomena of a deeper core represented by a disorder of the embodiment. The cognitive-behavioural model is the most studied and, up till now, clinically efficacious treatment for EDs. However, as any coherent and scientifically grounded model, it presents some limitations in its application. Numerous patients report a chronic course, do not respond to treatment and develop a personality structure based on pathological eating behaviours, since "being anorexic" becomes a new identity for the person. Furthermore, the etiopathogenetic trajectory of EDs influences the treatment response: for example, patients reporting childhood abuse or maltreatment respond differently to cognitive-behavioural therapy. To obtain a deeper comprehension of these disorders, it seems important to shift attention from abnormal eating behaviours to more complex and subtle psycho(patho)logical features, especially experiential ones. This characterisation represents the unavoidable premise for the identification of new therapeutic targets and consequently for an improvement of the outcome of these severe disorders. Thus, the present review aims to provide an integrated view of cognitive, psychodynamic, and phenomenological perspectives on EDs, suggesting new therapeutic targets and intervention strategies based on this integrated model. Level of Evidence: Level V.Level of evidence Level V: Opinions of authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Castellini
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy.
| | - Emanuele Cassioli
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Eleonora Rossi
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Milena Mancini
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health, Territory, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Stanghellini
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health, Territory, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti and Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Centro de Estudios de Fenomenología y Psiquiatría, Diego Portales' University, Santiago, Chile
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Wittek T, Truttmann S, Zeiler M, Philipp J, Auer-Welsbach E, Koubek D, Ohmann S, Werneck-Rohrer S, Sackl-Pammer P, Schöfbeck G, Mairhofer D, Kahlenberg L, Schmidt U, Karwautz AFK, Wagner G. The Maudsley model of anorexia nervosa treatment for adolescents and young adults (MANTRa): a study protocol for a multi-center cohort study. J Eat Disord 2021; 9:33. [PMID: 33685522 PMCID: PMC7941930 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-021-00387-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) is often challenging due to medical complications as well as high relapse and mortality rates. Studies about effective treatment options for people with AN are particularly scarce in the adolescent population. This paper is a study protocol for a multi-center cohort study assessing the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a new, manualized treatment program, the "Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adolescents and Young Adults" (MANTRa) compared to psychotherapeutic treatment as usual (TAU). METHODS/DESIGN One hundred patients between 13 and 21 years who meet the inclusion criteria will receive 24 to 34 individual weekly MANTRa therapy sessions or weekly TAU sessions. Primary outcome variables will be BMI and eating disorder psychopathology 12 months after baseline. Further changes in central coherence, cognitive flexibility, emotion recognition, comorbid psychopathology (e.g. depression, obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders, non-suicidal self-injury), personality factors and therapeutic alliance will be assessed. DISCUSSION This multi-center study will examine the utility of the treatment program MANTRa for adolescents with AN and, therefore enhances the current knowledge about potential treatments for this patient group. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03535714 . Registered: 24/05/2018 (retrospectively registered, still recruiting).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Wittek
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefanie Truttmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Zeiler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Philipp
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ellen Auer-Welsbach
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry of Childhood and Adolescence, Clinical Center Klagenfurt, 9020, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria
| | - Doris Koubek
- Medical Practice for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 4020, Linz, Austria
| | - Susanne Ohmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Werneck-Rohrer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Sackl-Pammer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabriele Schöfbeck
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dunja Mairhofer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leonie Kahlenberg
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Schmidt
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, WC2R 21S, UK
| | - Andreas F K Karwautz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gudrun Wagner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Potterton R, Austin A, Flynn M, Allen K, Lawrence V, Mountford V, Glennon D, Grant N, Brown A, Franklin-Smith M, Schelhase M, Jones WR, Brady G, Nunes N, Connan F, Mahony K, Serpell L, Schmidt U. "I'm truly free from my eating disorder": Emerging adults' experiences of FREED, an early intervention service model and care pathway for eating disorders. J Eat Disord 2021; 9:3. [PMID: 33407906 PMCID: PMC7789709 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-020-00354-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eating disorders (EDs) typically start during adolescence or emerging adulthood, periods of intense biopsychosocial development. FREED (First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for EDs) is a service model and care pathway providing rapid access to developmentally-informed care for emerging adults with EDs. FREED is associated with reduced duration of untreated eating disorder and improved clinical outcomes, but patients' experiences of treatment have yet to be assessed. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess emerging adults' experiences of receiving treatment through FREED. METHOD This study triangulated qualitative data on participants' experiences of FREED treatment from questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Participants were 106 emerging adults (aged 16-25; illness duration < 3 yrs) (questionnaire only = 92; interview only = 6; both = 8). Data were analysed thematically. RESULTS Most participants reported psychological and behavioural changes over the course of treatment (e.g. reduction in symptoms; increased acceptance and understanding of difficulties). Participants identified five beneficial characteristics of FREED treatment: i) rapid access to treatment; ii) knowledgeable and concerned clinicians; iii) focusing on life beyond the eating disorder; iv) building a support network; v) becoming your own therapist. CONCLUSION This study provides further supports for the implementation of early intervention and developmentally-informed care for EDs. Future service model development should include efforts to increase early help-seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Potterton
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Amelia Austin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michaela Flynn
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Karina Allen
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Vanessa Lawrence
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Mountford
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | | | - Nina Grant
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Amy Brown
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK
| | | | | | | | - Gabrielle Brady
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Nicole Nunes
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Frances Connan
- Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Kate Mahony
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Lucy Serpell
- North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ulrike Schmidt
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Potterton R, Richards K, Allen K, Schmidt U. Eating Disorders During Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Scoping Review. Front Psychol 2020; 10:3062. [PMID: 32082210 PMCID: PMC7005676 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Eating disorders (EDs) during the transition to adulthood can derail social, psychological, and vocational development. Effective treatment is of paramount importance, yet young adults' treatment needs are typically less well met than those of adolescents. In recent years, there has been a considerable shift in how developmental psychologists understand the transition to adulthood, with this life-phase reconceptualized as “emerging adulthood” (EA) (~18–25 years). Engagement with burgeoning developmental research is likely key to providing more effective care for young people experiencing EDs. Aims: To review ED research which has utilized the concept of EA, and to assess the usefulness of this concept for ED research and practice. Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews. Three databases (Psychinfo, PubMed, Embase) were searched for papers which explicitly focused on EDs during EA. No restrictions as to publication type, language, study design, or participants were applied. Included studies were assessed for developmental “informedness,” and findings were qualitatively synthesized. Results: Thirty-six studies (N = 25,475) were included in the review. Most studies used quantitative methodologies, were cross-sectional in design and focused on identifying psychological and social factors which contribute to etiology of EDs. Many studies (N = 22) used well-defined samples of emerging adults (EAs); few studies (N = 8) included developmental measures relevant to EAs. Findings indicate that whilst factors implicated in EDs in adolescence and adulthood are relevant to EAs, EA-specific factors (e.g., identity exploration) may also contribute. Conventional ED services and treatments present difficulties for EAs, whilst those adapted to EAs' needs are feasible, acceptable, and more effective than treatment-as-usual. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed. Conclusion: Existing research indicates that the EA concept is relevant for understanding EDs during the transition to adulthood, and ED services should implement adaptations which exploit the opportunities and overcome the challenges of this developmental stage. EA is currently an underused concept in ED research, and future engagement with the developmental literature by both researchers and clinicians may be key to understanding and treating EDs during transition to adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Potterton
- Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Richards
- Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karina Allen
- Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Eating Disorders Service, Maudsley Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.,School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Ulrike Schmidt
- Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,The Eating Disorders Service, Maudsley Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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