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Objectives: This thesis aimed to investigate whether a history of childhood trauma was indirectly associated with eating psychopathology through mediation by dissociation and/or emotion dysregulation. Method: Firstly, a systematic review was conducted to appraise the current level of evidence within the literature that supported dissociation as a potential mediator. To this end, studies that assessed the variables of childhood trauma, dissociation and eating psychopathology within a single study were identified and systematically reviewed. Secondly, an empirical cross-sectional study was undertaken to investigate a multiple mediation model of the association between childhood trauma and eating psychopathology which included dissociation and emotion dysregulation as potential mediators. 165 undergraduate Psychology students took part in this study. Participants completed measures of childhood trauma, eating psychopathology, dissociation and emotion dysregulation. Experiences of multiple forms of childhood trauma were assessed, including emotional abuse (CEA), physical abuse (CPA), sexual abuse (CSA), emotional neglect (CEN) and physical neglect (CPN). Results: The results of the systematic review were inconclusive regarding the potential role of dissociation as a mediator in the relationships between childhood trauma and eating psychopathology. Findings within the reviewed studies generally offered more support for associations between childhood trauma and dissociation and dissociation and eating psychopathology. Studies reported more inconsistent findings regarding the association between childhood trauma and eating psychopathology. The results from the empirical study indicated that CEA and CEN were both significantly associated with increased eating psychopathology within the whole sample. These relationships were significantly mediated by both dissociation and emotion dysregulation. A separate analysis with female participants only, indicated that CPA and CPN in addition to CEA and CEN were significantly associated with increased eating psychopathology. The associations between CEA, CEN, CPN and eating psychopathology were all significantly mediated by both dissociation and emotion dysregulation. Dissociation and emotion dysregulation did not mediate the association between CPA and eating psychopathology. Conclusions: The studies included within the systematic review offered tentative support for an indirect relationship between childhood trauma and eating psychopathology through dissociation. Firm conclusions were limited, however, due to a number of methodological shortcomings identified within the included studies. The main methodological shortcomings concerned the definition and measurement of childhood trauma and the failure of a number of studies to address theoretical models within their research design. Addressing both of these methodological limitations, the results of the empirical study provided support for the growing consensus that emotional maltreatment may be an important risk factor for the development of eating psychopathology. Further, the results of this study indicate that childhood trauma impacts indirectly on eating psychopathology through an enduring effect on both dissociative and emotion regulation processes.

Background The Ravello Profile is a battery of standardised neuropsychological measures of areas of functioning that evidence indicates are impaired in Anorexia Nervosa (AN), namely visuo-spatial functioning, central coherence and executive functioning. The neuropsychological profile of individuals with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is less well established. The current study aimed to examine differences in cognitive performance between people with BN, AN and non-eating disordered controls on the Ravello Profile. Methods The AN group (N=60) comprised participants from an existing database (Frampton et al. 2009). The BN group (N=22) largely comprised participants from NHS adult out-patient services. The non-eating disordered control group (N=20) comprised of colleagues and acquaintances of the researcher. Differences between AN, BN and control samples on visuo-spatial functioning, central coherence, executive functioning and error rates were examined. Results The AN group performed significantly worse than the BN group on a measure of central coherence and on some measures of executive function, but the BN group did not perform worse than the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups on three measures of visuo-spatial functioning. However, the AN group was significantly slower than both the BN and control group to copy the figure. The results showed some evidence of increased error rates in BN relative to AN, which may reflect greater impulsivity in BN. Conclusions The results indicate separate patterns of neuropsychological performance between AN, BN and controls, with AN demonstrating poorer performance on measures of executive function and central coherence, whilst BN participants showed higher rates of errors. The BN group were also generally faster to complete some tasks, indicative of a preference for speed over accuracy or impulsivity. Those working with individuals with AN or BN should take into consideration possible effects of their respective cognitive limitations and adapt interventions accordingly.

by Tso Chi Wai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-96). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgments --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iii / List of Tables --- p.v / List of Appendices --- p.vii / Introduction --- p.1 / Assessment tools --- p.2 / Development of the EDI --- p.2 / Psychometric properties of the EDI --- p.5 / Reliability --- p.5 / Test-retest reliability --- p.9 / Validity --- p.9 / Factor structure of EDI-1 --- p.14 / Factor analysis of EDI-2 --- p.17 / Normative Data --- p.18 / Cross-cultural studies --- p.19 / Purpose of the study --- p.21 / Method --- p.23 / Participants --- p.23 / Measures --- p.23 / Procedures --- p.25 / Results --- p.26 / Response rate and missing data --- p.26 / Normative data --- p.26 / Differentiating utility --- p.41 / Reliability --- p.45 / Item-total correlational analysis --- p.48 / Subscale intercorrelations --- p.53 / Factor analysis of EDI-1 --- p.55 / Factor analysis of EDI-2 --- p.72 / Correlation between EDI and ESC-21 --- p.78 / Discussion --- p.80 / Normative data and differentiating utility of EDI --- p.80 / Distribution of scores --- p.83 / Differentiating Utilities --- p.83 / Reliability --- p.85 / Factor analysis --- p.86 / Conclusion --- p.88 / Limitations --- p.89 / Implication for Future Studies --- p.90 / References --- p.91 / Appendices / Questionnaire for the study --- p.97

by Woo Mei Sum. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-71). / Abstract and questionnaire also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.iv / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.v / Chapter CHAPTER I- --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II- --- METHOD --- p.17 / Chapter CHAPTER III- --- RESULTS --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER IV- --- DISCUSSION --- p.47 / REFERENCE --- p.63 / APPENDICES --- p.72

Anorexia nervosa is recognised as a complex and chronic disorder that is often associated with poor prognosis and severe psychological and physiological consequences. Previous research has identified an array of factors associated with anorexia nervosa of which self-esteem, self-concept and body image are amongst the most commonly cited factors involved in the development and maintenance of the disorder. Capitalising on recent advances that have been made in other realms of psychology, the current study attempts to address current limitations regarding self-esteem, self-concept, body image and experiences of adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. More specifically, a series of three studies were designed to address : a/ self-esteem and self-concept ; b/ body image and the association between body image and self-concept; and c/ the experiences and support needs of young people with eating disorders.The current findings have demonstrated that whilst quantitative methods can be effectively utilised to elucidate various relations between predictor and outcome variables, qualitative methods can offer important insight into the patient with the eating disorder On a more general level, the current results obtained from the current series of studies may be able to inform current conceptualisations of anorexia nervosa and the future development of aetiology and treatment programs. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2005. / Title from title screen. Lisa Lilenfeld, committee chair; Chris Henrich, Lawrence Riso, committee members. Electronic text (91 p. : ill. (some col.)). Description based on contents viewed Apr. 25, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 66-83).

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the overall effectiveness of eating disorder prevention programs and to investigate potential moderating variables that may influence the magnitude of intervention effects. Meta-analysis was used to conduct a comprehensive and systematic analysis of data across 46 studies. Effect size estimates were grouped into outcome sets based on the following variables: knowledge, general eating pathology, dieting, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, negative affect, and self-esteem. Q statistics were used to analyze the distribution of effect size estimates within each outcome set and to explore the systematic influence of moderating variables. Results revealed large effects on the acquisition of knowledge and small net effects on reducing maladaptive eating attitudes and behaviors at posttest and follow-up. These programs were not found to produce significant effects on negative affect, and there were inconsistent effects on self-esteem across studies. Population targeted was the sole moderator that could account for variability in effect size distributions. There was a tendency toward greater benefits for studies targeting participants considered to be at a relatively higher risk for developing an eating disorder. Previous assumptions regarding the insufficiency of "one-shot" interventions and concerns about the iatrogenic effects of including information about eating disorders in an intervention were not supported by the data. These findings challenge negative conclusions drawn in previous review articles regarding the inability of eating disorder prevention programs to demonstrate behavioral improvements. Although these findings have implications for the prevention of eating disorders, it was argued that a clear link between intervention efficacy and a decreased incidence of eating disorders was not demonstrated. Rather, only direct information was offered about the ability to influence eating disorder related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Specific recommendations related to intervention content, reasonable goals/expectations, and outcome criteria were offered for improving research in this area.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse and childhood emotional and physical neglect on eating disorder symptoms and general psychopathology. This study utilized a cross-sectional research design incorporating a combination of self-report measures and clinical interviews. Seventy participants were recruited from two eating disorder treatment centres. A series of univariate tests revealed no significant differences between individuals who reported a mild level of trauma and those who reported a severe level of trauma on all clinical measures. Logistic regression analyses revealed associations between impulsivity and childhood physical abuse and between psychiatric comorbidity and childhood physical neglect. Few associations were found and the observed effect sizes were generally small suggesting that the null findings were not due to inadequate power. It may be that the study sample differed from those used in previous investigations in which significant associations have been documented.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of childhood sexual, physical and emotional abuse and childhood emotional and physical neglect on eating disorder symptoms and general psychopathology. This study utilized a cross-sectional research design incorporating a combination of self-report measures and clinical interviews. Seventy participants were recruited from two eating disorder treatment centres. A series of univariate tests revealed no significant differences between individuals who reported a mild level of trauma and those who reported a severe level of trauma on all clinical measures. Logistic regression analyses revealed associations between impulsivity and childhood physical abuse and between psychiatric comorbidity and childhood physical neglect. Few associations were found and the observed effect sizes were generally small suggesting that the null findings were not due to inadequate power. It may be that the study sample differed from those used in previous investigations in which significant associations have been documented.