The Transdiagnostic Nature of Metacognitions in Women With Eating Disorders

Abstract

There is emerging evidence for the important role of metacognitions in the presentation of eating disorders (EDs); however it is unclear to what extent these metacogntions are transdiagnostic. This study used a mixed methods convergent design to explore this question by triangulating both qualitative and quantitative data from 27 women, aged 18–55 years, with diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorders not otherwise specified. The results indicated that metacognitions in EDs may be transdiagnostic and may in part explain temporal migration between diagnoses and the degree of comorbidity associated with EDs.

Notes

¹ Proposed DSM-5 criteria (as at April 2011, when data collection began) were also considered, and this altered the diagnostic breakdown accordingly: 10 AN, 8 BN, 1 Binge-eating Disorder, 3 Feeding and Eating Condition Not Elsewhere Classified (FECNEC)—atypical AN, 4 FECNEC—sub-threshold BN, and 1 FECNEC—other. However, this did not meaningfully impact the analysis and so DSM-IV-TR criteria were used for this study.