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Food for Thought: Ego‐dystonicity and Fear of Self in Eating Disorders
Author(s) -
Purcell Lalonde Magali,
O'Connor Kieron,
Aardema Frederick,
Coelho Jennifer S.
Publication year - 2015
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.2349
Subject(s) - psychology , id, ego and super ego , eating disorders , conceptualization , ego depletion , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , self control , artificial intelligence , computer science
Abstract Degree of ego‐dystonicity in obsessions is clinically relevant to the conceptualization and treatment of eating disorders (EDs). Obsessive–compulsive disorder research has suggested that the transformation of intrusive thoughts into obsessions is linked to the degree to which intrusive thoughts threaten core perceptions of the self. This study aims to explore the relationship between the ego‐dystonic nature of obsessions in ED patients and a fear of self, the link between ED symptom severity and ego‐dystonicity in obsessions, and differences between non‐clinical and individuals with EDs in the presence of ego‐dystonic thoughts and a fear of self. Ego‐dystonicity (Ego‐dystonicity Questionnaire (EDQ)) and feared self (Fear of Self Questionnaire (FSQ)) degrees were measured in a clinical sample ( n = 57 with EDs) and a non‐clinical sample ( n = 45). EDQ and FSQ scores were highly correlated in both samples. EDQ scores were not significantly correlated to ED symptom severity with the exception of the EDQ Irrationality subscale, which was strongly related to compulsion severity. Participants with an ED had significantly higher EDQ and FSQ scores compared with controls. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.