TY - JOUR

T1 - The association between interpersonal problems and treatment outcome in patients with eating disorders

AU - Ung, Elise Meyn

AU - Erichsen, Cecilie Birkmose

AU - Poulsen, Stig

AU - Lau, Marianne Engelbrecht

AU - Simonsen, Sebastian

AU - Davidsen, Annika Helgadóttir

PY - 2017/11/21

Y1 - 2017/11/21

N2 - Background: Interpersonal problems are thought to play an essential role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether a specific interpersonal profile could be identified in a group of patients diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, and to explore if specific types of interpersonal problems were systematically related to treatment outcome in this group of patients. Methods: The participants were 159 patients who received systemic/narrative outpatient group psychotherapy. Interpersonal problems were measured at baseline, and eating disorder symptoms were measured pre- and post treatment. Data were analysed with the Structural Summary Method, a particular method for the analysis of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, and hierarchical regression analysis was conducted. Results: The patients demonstrated a generally Non-assertive and Friendly-submissive interpersonal style. No significant association between the overall level of interpersonal problems and treatment outcome was identified. However, the results showed a correlation between being cold and hostile and poor treatment outcome, while being domineering showed a trend approaching significance in predicting better treatment outcome. Conclusion: The results indicate that patients with eating disorders show a specific interpersonal profile, and suggest that particular types of interpersonal problems are associated with treatment outcome.

AB - Background: Interpersonal problems are thought to play an essential role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether a specific interpersonal profile could be identified in a group of patients diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, and to explore if specific types of interpersonal problems were systematically related to treatment outcome in this group of patients. Methods: The participants were 159 patients who received systemic/narrative outpatient group psychotherapy. Interpersonal problems were measured at baseline, and eating disorder symptoms were measured pre- and post treatment. Data were analysed with the Structural Summary Method, a particular method for the analysis of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, and hierarchical regression analysis was conducted. Results: The patients demonstrated a generally Non-assertive and Friendly-submissive interpersonal style. No significant association between the overall level of interpersonal problems and treatment outcome was identified. However, the results showed a correlation between being cold and hostile and poor treatment outcome, while being domineering showed a trend approaching significance in predicting better treatment outcome. Conclusion: The results indicate that patients with eating disorders show a specific interpersonal profile, and suggest that particular types of interpersonal problems are associated with treatment outcome.

KW - Binge eating disorder

KW - Bulimia nervosa

KW - Eating disorder examination and inventory of interpersonal problems

KW - Eating disorder not otherwise specified

KW - Eating disorders

KW - Group psychotherapy

KW - Interpersonal problems

KW - Treatment outcome

U2 - 10.1186/s40337-017-0179-6

DO - 10.1186/s40337-017-0179-6

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29201364

AN - SCOPUS:85034586211

VL - 5

JO - Journal of Eating Disorders

JF - Journal of Eating Disorders

SN - 2050-2974

IS - 1

M1 - 53

ER -