Difficulties in emotion regulation in patients with eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: A defining characteristic of eating disorders (EDs) is difficulty with emotion regulation (ER). Previous research indicates that ED subtypes demonstrate differing ER difficulties. Specifically, individuals with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) or Bulimia Nervosa (BN) show greater impairment in their ability to regulate emotions in areas such as achieving goals while upset, reacting impulsively to distress, and effectively using coping strategies, as compared to those with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). However, limited research includes the diagnostic category of Eating Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). The aim of this study was to better understand ER difficulties for all ED diagnoses, especially EDNOS. It was hypothesized that patients with EDs will demonstrate similar ER difficulties as psychiatric patients without EDs and that patients with EDNOS will be similar in their total level of ER difficulties but will differ in their specific types of difficulties in ER as compared to patients with other EDs. METHODS: Participants included 404 adults presenting to an inpatient psychiatric hospital. Psychiatric diagnoses, including EDs, were determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders. Differences in specific and overall difficulties with ER were examined across psychiatric patients using the multidimensional Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. RESULTS: Results of this study indicate that individuals with EDs have greater ER difficulties in most domains of ER and that those with BED and EDNOS demonstrate the most significant differences in ER as compared to psychiatric patients without EDs. Additionally, it was found that ED subtypes typically did not differ in terms of specific difficulties in ER. One exception emerged indicating that individuals with BED demonstrated significantly greater difficulty on the Limited Access to Emotion Regulation Strategies subscale as compared to those with EDNOS. CONCLUSIONS: Researchers were able to clarify difficulties in ER across ED diagnoses. Results highlight the importance of providing ER skills training for patients with EDs, particularly those with BED and EDNOS, and give insight into the specific areas of ER that may be important for these patients to focus on throughout recovery.

Effectivenes of a track-based model for treating eating disorders in a general psychiatric hospital.

Due to comorbid disorders or the degree of severity of their eating disorder, individuals may not warrant treatment at a specialty eating disorder facility. This article examines the effectiveness of a track-based model for treating eating disorders at a general inpatient psychiatric hospital. One hundred seventy-six patients who participated on the Eating Disorder Track and completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI; Garner, 2004) were examined to determine whether their eating disorder symptoms improved over the course of their treatment. Results indicated that patients significantly improved across all eating disorder risk scales and psychological scales measured by the Eating Disorder Inventory. This suggests that patients who may not meet the criteria for attending a specialty eating disorder program may receive an alternative form of treatment for their eating disorder that is effective in reducing their eating disorder symptomatology. The hope is that providing more treatment options will expand the reach of eating disorder treatments to more individuals who need specialized care for these disorders.