Elucidating the longitudinal interplay of childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a one-year follow-up study
Description
Background and aims
Treatment response of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is unsatisfactory, particularly in presence of childhood trauma (CT). Emotion dysregulation in traumatized patients with AN is higher, therefore this study aimed at evaluating the role of emotion dysregulation as a mechanism trough which CT maintains greater eating disorder (ED) psychopathology after treatment.
Methods
In total, 152 female AN patients performed the baseline assessment (T0), and 118 were re-evaluated after 1 year (T1) of a multidisciplinary treatment including enhanced cognitive-behavior therapy. T0 assessment included Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). At T1, EDE-Q and DERS were readministered. The longitudinal coupling between EDE-Q and DERS and the role of CT as an outcome predictor were evaluated through a bivariate latent change score (LCS) analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results
After treatment, an overall amelioration was observed. LCS-SEM showed that higher baseline DERS predicted less EDE-Q improvements. EDE-Q variation was unidirectionally predicted by DERS variation. Higher CTQ scores predicted worse longitudinal trend of EDE-Q through the mediation of greater baseline DERS.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that emotion dysregulation mediated the effect of CT in worsening treatment response in patients with AN. Trauma-focused interventions, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) could be pivotal to improving outcomes.
Abstract topic
Childhood trauma and anorexia nervosa
Treatment response of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is unsatisfactory, particularly in presence of childhood trauma (CT). Emotion dysregulation in traumatized patients with AN is higher, therefore this study aimed at evaluating the role of emotion dysregulation as a mechanism trough which CT maintains greater eating disorder (ED) psychopathology after treatment.
Methods
In total, 152 female AN patients performed the baseline assessment (T0), and 118 were re-evaluated after 1 year (T1) of a multidisciplinary treatment including enhanced cognitive-behavior therapy. T0 assessment included Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). At T1, EDE-Q and DERS were readministered. The longitudinal coupling between EDE-Q and DERS and the role of CT as an outcome predictor were evaluated through a bivariate latent change score (LCS) analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Results
After treatment, an overall amelioration was observed. LCS-SEM showed that higher baseline DERS predicted less EDE-Q improvements. EDE-Q variation was unidirectionally predicted by DERS variation. Higher CTQ scores predicted worse longitudinal trend of EDE-Q through the mediation of greater baseline DERS.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that emotion dysregulation mediated the effect of CT in worsening treatment response in patients with AN. Trauma-focused interventions, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) could be pivotal to improving outcomes.
Abstract topic
Childhood trauma and anorexia nervosa
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Rossi, E., Cassioli, E., D'Anna, G., Martelli, M., Hazzard, V. M., Crosby, R. D., Wonderlich, S. A., ... Castellini, G. (2023, June). Elucidating the longitudinal interplay of childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a one-year follow-up study. Presentation at the EMDR Europe Conference, Bologna, Italy
Collection
Citation
“Elucidating the longitudinal interplay of childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a one-year follow-up study,” Francine Shapiro Legacy Library, accessed January 14, 2026, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/28216.