Kevser Nalbant1, Bilge Merve Kalaycı2, Devrim Akdemir3, Sinem Akgül4, Nuray Kanbur4. 1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. drkevser@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Training and Research Hospital, Yildirim Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey. 3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Emotional functions may play an important role in anorexia nervosa (AN). The onset of the disorder generally occurs during adolescence, which is a critical period of emotional development. However, most studies that evaluated emotional functions in AN were conducted in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate emotion regulation, emotion recognition, and empathy skills in adolescent girls with AN by controlling for the effects of depression and anxiety symptoms, childhood traumatic experiences, and attachment security on emotional functions. METHODS: Thirty-two adolescent girls with AN and 32 healthy counterparts completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, and the Child and Adolescent KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale-Adolescent Form. RESULTS: The results revealed that adolescents with AN were found to have more difficulties in emotion regulation, higher alexithymic tendencies, and lower empathy skills compared with the control group. However, emotion recognition was not found to be significantly different between the two groups. These results were the same when controlling for the effects of depression and anxiety symptoms, childhood traumatic experiences, and attachment security except for empathy skills. Alexithymia and depressive symptoms were significantly related to emotion regulation difficulties in adolescents with AN. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the results, it seems that emotion regulation and alexithymia may play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of AN. Accordingly, it is necessary to focus on the improvement of these skills during the treatment of AN. Furthermore, interventions promoting these skills during adolescence may be preventive. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control study.
PURPOSE: Emotional functions may play an important role in anorexia nervosa (AN). The onset of the disorder generally occurs during adolescence, which is a critical period of emotional development. However, most studies that evaluated emotional functions in AN were conducted in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate emotion regulation, emotion recognition, and empathy skills in adolescent girls with AN by controlling for the effects of depression and anxiety symptoms, childhood traumatic experiences, and attachment security on emotional functions. METHODS: Thirty-two adolescent girls with AN and 32 healthy counterparts completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, and the Child and Adolescent KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale-Adolescent Form. RESULTS: The results revealed that adolescents with AN were found to have more difficulties in emotion regulation, higher alexithymic tendencies, and lower empathy skills compared with the control group. However, emotion recognition was not found to be significantly different between the two groups. These results were the same when controlling for the effects of depression and anxiety symptoms, childhood traumatic experiences, and attachment security except for empathy skills. Alexithymia and depressive symptoms were significantly related to emotion regulation difficulties in adolescents with AN. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the results, it seems that emotion regulation and alexithymia may play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of AN. Accordingly, it is necessary to focus on the improvement of these skills during the treatment of AN. Furthermore, interventions promoting these skills during adolescence may be preventive. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control study.
Authors: Jason M Lavender; Stephen A Wonderlich; Scott G Engel; Kathryn H Gordon; Walter H Kaye; James E Mitchell Journal: Clin Psychol Rev Date: 2015-06-06
Authors: Lisa Feldmann; Ellen Greimel; Carolin Zsigo; Anca Sfärlea; Carolin Lingl; Charlotte Piechaczek; Gerd Schulte-Körne Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2022-04-12