Metacognition and emotion regulation as treatment targets in binge eating disorder: a network analysis study

Journal of Eating Disorders

Paolo Zaffino¹  Carlo Cosentino¹  Gianluca Lo Coco²  Mariarita Caroleo³  Marianna Rania³  Elvira Anna Carbone³  Matteo Aloi³  Giuseppina Calabrò³  Cristina Segura-Garcia⁴  Antonino Carcione⁵  Giuseppe Nicolò⁵ 

[1] Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, School of Computer and Biomedical Engineering, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy;Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;Outpatient Unit for Clinical Research and Treatment of Eating Disorders, University Hospital “Mater Domini”, Catanzaro, Italy;Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy;Outpatient Unit for Clinical Research and Treatment of Eating Disorders, University Hospital “Mater Domini”, Catanzaro, Italy;Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy;Third Centre of Cognitive Psychotherapy – Italian School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SICC), Rome, Italy;

关键词: Binge eating disorder;    Network analysis;    Metacognition;    Emotion dysregulation;    Binge severity;    Psychotherapy;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40337-021-00376-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis study aims to examine the underlying associations between eating, affective and metacognitive symptoms in patients with binge eating disorder (BED) through network analysis (NA) in order to identify key variables that may be considered the target for psychotherapeutic interventions.MethodsA total of 155 patients with BED completed measures of eating psychopathology, affective symptoms, emotion regulation and metacognition. A cross-sectional network was inferred by means of Gaussian Markov random field estimation using graphical LASSO and the extended Bayesian information criterion (EBIC-LASSO), and central symptoms of BED were identified by means of the strength centrality index.ResultsImpaired self-monitoring metacognition and difficulties in impulse control emerged as the symptoms with the highest centrality. Conversely, eating and affective features were less central. The centrality stability coefficient of strength was above the recommended cut-off, thus indicating the stability of the network.ConclusionsAccording to the present NA findings, impaired self-monitoring metacognition and difficulties in impulse control are the central nodes in the psychopathological network of BED whereas eating symptoms appear marginal. If further studies with larger samples replicate these results, metacognition and impulse control could represent new targets of psychotherapeutic interventions in the treatment of BED. In light of this, metacognitive interpersonal therapy could be a promising aid in clinical practice to develop an effective treatment for BED.

【 授权许可】

CC BY