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Reflective Functioning in 70 Patients Suffering from Bulimia Nervosa
Author(s) -
Pedersen Signe Holm,
Lunn Susanne,
Katznelson Hannah,
Poulsen Stig
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2158
Subject(s) - mentalization , bulimia nervosa , psychology , eating disorders , clinical psychology , theory of mind , psychiatry , psychotherapist , cognition
Objective This study is the first to evaluate the reflective functioning abilities of patients suffering from bulimia nervosa (BN). Method Seventy patients fulfilling Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for BN were interviewed with the Adult Attachment Interview, which was subsequently coded for reflective functioning (RF). Results On average, the sample of patients suffering from BN had close to normal mentalizing abilities. However, the distribution of RF scores was significantly different from the distribution of RF in a non‐clinical control group, showing a more polarized pattern with more low and high RF scores. Conclusion The study indicates that the theory of mentalization may contribute to understanding BN. However, bulimic pathology may develop and be maintained despite good mentalizing abilities. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.