ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Eating Behavior
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1565102
Longitudinal trajectories of eating disorder symptoms in mothers: the predictive role of PTSD and childhood trauma
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of Oslo, Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- 2Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Nordland, Norway
- 3Modum Bad Psychiatric Center, Vikersund, Norway
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A significant sub-group of patients with eating disorders (ED) are mothers. There is limited literature on this population, and little is known about their treatment trajectories and outcomes.The literature on this population is limited, and there is little knowledge about their treatment trajectories and outcomes. The primary objectives of this study were to examine; 1) longitudinal changes in ED symptomatology among mothers who underwent a specialized sequential treatment, and 2) the extent to which post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or childhood trauma predicted treatment outcome.A total of 61 patients with ED received a highly specialized, sequential inpatient Cognitive Behaviour Ttherapy (CBT) treatment program adapted for mothers delivered over six weeks in total, with one treatment week per month across a six-month period.over six weeks. ED symptoms were measured with Eating Disorder Examination-questionnaire (EDEQ) at admission, discharge, and 1-year follow-up. Data were analysed with multi-level analysis, and we examined outcomes for both overall symptom reduction, as well as for the four clinical subscales that EDE is comprised of, e.g. "Weight concern", Shape concern, Eating Concern, and RestrictionThere was a significant reduction in ED symptoms from admission to discharge, which remained stable through the 1-year follow-up. PTSD and childhood trauma predicted the level of "Shape concern" negatively across the entire period. PTSD also predicted the level of "Weight concern" negatively over time.Specialized sequential treatment targeting for mothers with ED shows potential role as a promising intervention. However, further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.Additionally, this study enhances our understanding of the role of trauma in the treatment of ED.
Keywords: Eating Disorders, Motherhood, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Psychotherapy, Trauma
Received: 22 Jan 2025; Accepted: 11 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Helle, Wangsmo, Stänicke and Helle. 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) or licensor 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:
Sofie Egidius Helle, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
Sofie Helle, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
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