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Update on Psychological Trauma, Other Severe Adverse Experiences and Eating Disorders: State of the Research and Future Research Directions

  • Eating Disorders (S Wonderlich and JM Lavender, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper provides an updated review of the literature on the relationship between psychological trauma exposure, other severe adverse experiences, and eating disorders.

Recent Findings

Trauma exposure and other severe adverse experiences (e.g., emotional abuse) in both childhood and adulthood are associated with eating disorders. The relationship between traumatic and other adverse experiences and eating disorders appears to be mediated by emotional and behavioral dysregulation, as well as by cognitive factors such as self-criticism. Biological vulnerabilities may also be relevant to this relationship. Overall, the literature is limited by predominantly cross-sectional designs.

Summary

There is clear evidence of a correlational relationship between trauma exposure and other severe adverse events, and eating disorders. Both risk and maintenance factor hypotheses have been put forth; however, prospective research testing these hypotheses remains limited. Future research should use prospective designs and focus on trauma-related symptoms (rather than trauma exposure) in order to advance research on risk and maintaining factors for eating disorders and inform treatment directions.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Mental Health, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada

    Kathryn Trottier & Danielle E. MacDonald

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kathryn Trottier & Danielle E. MacDonald

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  1. Kathryn Trottier
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Correspondence to Kathryn Trottier.

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Kathryn Trottier and Danielle E. MacDonald declare that they have no potential conflicts of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Eating Disorders

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Trottier, K., MacDonald, D.E. Update on Psychological Trauma, Other Severe Adverse Experiences and Eating Disorders: State of the Research and Future Research Directions. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 45 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0806-6

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