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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
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Distress tolerance in the eating disorders
Emma Corstorphine1, Vicki Mountford, Sophie Tomlinson
1Outpatient Eating Disorders Service, South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust, Harewood House, Springfield University Hospital, London SW17 7DJ, UK. Emma.Corstorphine@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk
Eating Behaviors
|December 19, 2006
Summary
Patients with eating disorders struggle with emotional regulation, impacting distress tolerance. A new scale revealed that avoiding emotions is linked to disordered eating, while accepting emotions is associated with healthier coping mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Eating Disorder Research
Background:
- Eating disorders are frequently associated with difficulties in emotional state regulation.
- Distress tolerance, a construct relevant to impulsive disorders, is poorly understood in eating disorders.
- Lack of clarity on distress tolerance components hinders targeted treatment development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel measure for assessing distress tolerance.
- To clinically validate this distress tolerance scale within eating disorder populations.
- To investigate the relationship between distress tolerance and eating disorder symptomatology.
Main Methods:
- Development and administration of the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS).
- Inclusion of 72 women diagnosed with eating disorders and 62 non-clinical controls.
- Utilized the Eating Disorders Inventory alongside the DTS for comprehensive assessment.
Main Results:
- The DTS demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties across its three scales.
- Significant group differences emerged: eating disorder patients scored higher on 'Avoidance of affect'.
- Non-clinical participants scored higher on 'Accept and manage', with 'Avoidance of affect' correlating positively with unhealthy eating attitudes.
Conclusions:
- Examining both maladaptive (avoidance) and adaptive (management) coping with affect is crucial in eating disorders.
- Treatment should focus on reducing emotional avoidance and enhancing emotional management skills.
- Further research is needed to explore the link between distress tolerance and other impulsive behaviors in eating disorders.
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