An Experimental Investigation of Verbal Expression of Emotion in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

TY - JOUR

T1 - An Experimental Investigation of Verbal Expression of Emotion in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

AU - Davies, Helen

AU - Swan, Nicola

AU - Schmidt, Ulrike

AU - Tchanturia, Kate

N1 - Cited By (since 1996): 2 Export Date: 9 January 2013 Source: Scopus

PY - 2012/11

Y1 - 2012/11

N2 - Objective This study aims to use an experimental design to investigate verbal expression of emotion in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Method Forty-two patients with AN, 26 patients with BN and 34 healthy controls (HCs) were videoed talking about discrete emotional experiences. Talks were analysed using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. Participants also completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ).  Results People with AN used fewer words when describing their emotional experiences and fewer positive affect words than HCs. People with BN were indistinguishable from HCs. Both ED groups had higher scores on the suppression subscale of the ERQ compared with HCs. Suppression was negatively correlated with negative verbal expression. Discussion This study highlights differences between AN and BN in emotion expression. It supports a model of AN, which highlights emotion inhibition as a maintaining factor of the illness. Methods of emotion regulation in EDs may contribute to increased negative mood and poorer social functioning. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

AB - Objective This study aims to use an experimental design to investigate verbal expression of emotion in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Method Forty-two patients with AN, 26 patients with BN and 34 healthy controls (HCs) were videoed talking about discrete emotional experiences. Talks were analysed using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. Participants also completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ).  Results People with AN used fewer words when describing their emotional experiences and fewer positive affect words than HCs. People with BN were indistinguishable from HCs. Both ED groups had higher scores on the suppression subscale of the ERQ compared with HCs. Suppression was negatively correlated with negative verbal expression. Discussion This study highlights differences between AN and BN in emotion expression. It supports a model of AN, which highlights emotion inhibition as a maintaining factor of the illness. Methods of emotion regulation in EDs may contribute to increased negative mood and poorer social functioning. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

U2 - 10.1002/erv.1157

DO - 10.1002/erv.1157

M3 - Article

SN - 1072-4133

VL - 20

SP - 476

EP - 483

JO - European Eating Disorders Review

JF - European Eating Disorders Review

IS - 6

ER -