Emotion regulation (ER) is defined as the ability to exert control over one's own emotional state. In recent years, extensive research has found ER to be a transdiagnostic risk factor involved in eating disorders (1). People with anorexia nervosa present associated cognitive-affective models that play a role in the management of maladaptive schemata (2), with no differences between individuals with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (3). Finally, in binge eating disorder, a distinct neurobiological phenotype has been proposed, integrating emotion regulation and impulsivity as the core of the development and maintenance of the disorder (4). Different treatment approaches have been evaluated across the literature, showing the potential role of specific cognitive training (5), specific treatment approaches (6), or integration in rehabilitation protocols (7). However, the basis of the vulnerability to use maladaptive ED strategies – like rumination, suppression, or avoidance of emotions – has not been totally identified yet, calling for more investigation in this specific psychopathological element.
The articles included in this Topic, which present a wide range of research designs and methodologies and theoretical frameworks, reflect the extent of the literature that is being conducted on ER and related processes in eating disorders.
Leppaned et al. performed a network meta-analysis to explore associations between maladaptive ER strategies and eating psychopathology. They found that ruminations and non-acceptance of emotions were most closely associated with specific eating psychopathology. They discussed the role of specific interventions, including in patients with low BMI that showed weaker associations.
Beeler and Burghardt proposed a neurobiological model for individuals with anorexia nervosa by looking at the possible role of dopamine in the continuums of the disorder, from the early stages to the maintaining behaviors. The model proposed should be evaluated and implemented in future studies, given the implications that it might have in treating approaches.
Drinkwater et al. performed a qualitative study on the experience of anorexia, emotions, and their management, supporting the emotion-focused models of anorexia. Indeed, they identified three distinct but interrelated phases during the recovery pathway: (1) coping with uncertainty, (2) seeing through the façade, and (3) growth. This study could help the future development of interventions, which might help individuals to recover.
Mikhail critically reviewed the studies that examined the associations between negative affect and loss of control eating, proposing an expanded affect-focused model that embraced trait-level individual differences, as well as biological and environmental variables.
Vasiliu performed a review of the existing literature on food addiction, showing the possible role of ER in this disorder, as well as the potential therapeutic solutions available now. Looking at the transdiagnostic role of ER in eating disorders, obesity, and food addiction, future studies should aim to implement strategies for the benefit of patients.
Li et al. showed the burden of eating disorders in China in the last decades, pointing out unexpected data about gender and dysfunctional behavioral differences that the previous literature has underestimated.
The current Research Topic generated a diverse collection of studies on ER and eating disorders. The collection includes different methodologies and populations, corroborating the transdiagnostic role of ER and its potential role in improving our understanding of psychopathology.
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Author contributions
PM wrote and prepare the first draft of the manuscript. AO, FM, and KG revised and supervised the first draft. All authors have approved the submitted version.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
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Summary
Keywords
eating disorders, emotion regulation, overcontrol, dysregulation, emotional spectrum
Citation
Meneguzzo P, Oldershaw AV, Monaco F and Giel K (2022) Editorial: Eating disorders and emotion regulation, looking at the spectrum from overcontrolling to dysregulation. Front. Psychiatry 13:976500. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.976500
Received
23 June 2022
Accepted
04 July 2022
Published
18 July 2022
Volume
13 - 2022
Edited and reviewed by
Stephan Zipfel, University of Tübingen, Germany
Updates
Copyright
© 2022 Meneguzzo, Oldershaw, Monaco and Giel.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Paolo Meneguzzo paolo.meneguzzo@unipd.it
This article was submitted to Psychological Therapy and Psychosomatics, a section of the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.