Francesco Rotella1, Giulia Fioravanti, Valdo Ricca. 1. aPsychiatry Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence Medical SchoolbDepartment of Health Sciences, Psychology and Psychiatry Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In the last decades, three main different personality domains have been investigated in the field of eating disorders: personality traits, temperament, and personality disorders. The use of a wide range of instruments and the presence of many different approaches in the definition of personality dimensions make it difficult to summarize the emerging results from different studies. The aim of this narrative review is to critically highlight and discuss all interesting developments in this field, as reflected in the recent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: The study of personality and temperament in eating disorders seems to be in line with the recently suggested dimensional approach, which highlights the importance of symptoms aggregation, rather than the categorical diagnoses. Recent literature seems to confirm that specific personality and temperamental profiles can be drawn for patients with eating disorders, which can discriminate different eating disorders' diagnoses/symptoms. SUMMARY: These observations have relevant clinical implications as treatment of eating disorders is largely based on psychotherapeutic interventions. However, large longitudinal studies are needed to better clarify the suggested relationships and to identify more defined therapeutic strategies.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In the last decades, three main different personality domains have been investigated in the field of eating disorders: personality traits, temperament, and personality disorders. The use of a wide range of instruments and the presence of many different approaches in the definition of personality dimensions make it difficult to summarize the emerging results from different studies. The aim of this narrative review is to critically highlight and discuss all interesting developments in this field, as reflected in the recent literature. RECENT FINDINGS: The study of personality and temperament in eating disorders seems to be in line with the recently suggested dimensional approach, which highlights the importance of symptoms aggregation, rather than the categorical diagnoses. Recent literature seems to confirm that specific personality and temperamental profiles can be drawn for patients with eating disorders, which can discriminate different eating disorders' diagnoses/symptoms. SUMMARY: These observations have relevant clinical implications as treatment of eating disorders is largely based on psychotherapeutic interventions. However, large longitudinal studies are needed to better clarify the suggested relationships and to identify more defined therapeutic strategies.
Authors: Jason M Lavender; Erica L Goodman; Kristen M Culbert; Stephen A Wonderlich; Ross D Crosby; Scott G Engel; James E Mitchell; Daniel Le Grange; Scott J Crow; Carol B Peterson Journal: Eur Eat Disord Rev Date: 2017-04-07