Is reduction of symptoms in eating disorder patients after 1 year of treatment related to attachment security and mentalization?

ABSTRACT

In a sample of 38 eating disorder (ED) patients who received psychotherapeutic treatment, changes in attachment security, and mentalization in relation to symptoms reduction were investigated. Attachment security improved in 1 year but was unrelated to improvement of ED or comorbid symptoms. Mentalization did not change significantly in 1 year. Pretreatment mentalization was negatively related to the severity of ED symptoms, trait anxiety, psycho-neuroticism, and self-injurious behavior after 1 year of treatment. We conclude that for ED patients, improving mentalization might increase the effect of treatment on core and comorbid symptoms.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mrs. C. Vierboom for her contribution to conducting and Mrs. S. den Hollander for scoring and classifying the AAI interviews.

Notes

¹ Originally, the sample consisted of 50 patients. Twelve patients were unavailable at due to death (1), refusal to participate (8), data lost (1), and change of address (2). The dropouts were older (, ) than the completers but did not significantly differ from the completers on any other variable measured in the study.