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Compulsive features in the eating disorders: a role for trauma?
Rebecca Lockwood1, Rachel Lawson, Glenn Waller
1Eating Disorders Service, South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust and Department of Mental Health, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|April 20, 2004
Summary
Childhood sexual abuse is linked to compulsive cleaning behaviors in women with eating disorders. This finding suggests trauma-informed care may benefit patients with comorbid compulsive cleaning.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Childhood trauma is linked to impulsive behaviors in eating disorders.
- The link between childhood trauma and compulsive behaviors in eating disorders is under-researched.
- Both impulsive and compulsive behaviors may serve emotion regulation functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between different forms of childhood trauma (emotional, physical, sexual) and compulsive behaviors (cleaning, checking) in women with eating disorders.
Main Methods:
- Study included 62 women diagnosed with eating disorders.
- Participants underwent interviews to assess diagnosis, trauma history, and compulsive behaviors.
- Chi-squared analyses were used to examine associations.
Main Results:
- No significant associations were found between emotional or physical abuse and compulsive cleaning or checking behaviors.
- A significant association was identified between reported childhood sexual abuse and the presence of compulsive cleaning behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Childhood sexual abuse is specifically associated with compulsive cleaning in women with eating disorders.
- Treatment for eating-disordered patients with compulsive cleaning may benefit from addressing the consequences of childhood sexual abuse.
- Further research is needed to confirm generalizability across different diagnostic groups and measures.