The role of coherence of mind and reflective functioning in understanding binge-eating disorder and co-morbid overweight

ABSTRACT

Coherence of mind and reflective functioning may impact negative affect and interpersonal functioning over and above the effects of symptoms of depression and interpersonal problems that contribute to symptoms of binge-eating disorder (BED) and overweight/obesity. Matched samples of overweight women with BED and overweight and normal weight women without BED completed the Adult Attachment Interview, a measure of depressive symptoms, and a measure of interpersonal problems. Greater symptoms of depression distinguished women with BED from the matched comparison samples. Greater interpersonal problems differentiated women with BED from overweight women without BED. Coherence of Mind scores did not differentiate the samples. However, lower Reflective Functioning scores did distinguish both women with BED and overweight women without BED from normal weight women. Lower reflective functioning may lead to binge eating independent of depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Reflective functioning
• coherence of mind
• obesity
• attachment
• binge-eating disorder

Acknowledgements

H.M. and R.G. were funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Frederick Banting and Charles Best Doctoral Awards. The data used in the current study were collected as part of studies funded by the Institute of Gender and Health of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Ontario Mental Health Foundation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research [GSD 134883]; Institute of Gender and Health [MOP-82752]; Ontario Mental Health Foundation [Type A];