Posttraumatic stress disorder in eating disorder patients: The roles of psychological distress and timing of trauma. Issue 2 (15th December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Isomaa, Rasmus; Backholm, Klas; Birgegård, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Voume 230:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 506
• Page End: 510
• Publication Date: 2015-12-15
• Subjects: Eating disorder -- PTSD -- Trauma -- Timing -- Comorbidity; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.09.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Exposure to traumatic events may be a risk factor for subsequent development of an eating disorder (ED). In a previous study, we showed that trauma exposure impacted symptom load in ED patients. We also saw an effect of trauma on general psychological distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ED severity, to focus on the mediating role of psychological distress for the association, and to assess the role of timing of trauma in relation to emergence of ED. Participants were Swedish adult ED patients with a history of traumatic exposure ( N =843, Mean age 27.2, 97.3% female). One fourth (24.1%) of the participants had a lifetime diagnosis of PTSD. PTSD had an impact on ED severity, but the impact was mediated by psychological distress. When stratifying the sample based on timing of trauma a significant effect was present only in those with trauma within a year of emergence of ED. The results suggest emotion regulation as a possible underlying factor of interest in future research. Highlights: PTSD had an impact on ED severity. The impact of PTSD was mediated by psychological distress. Timing of trauma had a significant effect on the association between PTSD and ED.