This preprint is under consideration at Journal of Eating Disorders. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
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Research article
Critical Incidents in Anorexia Nervosa: Patients’ Perspective
Jenni Leppanen
King's College London
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2814-4375
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Although social-emotional difficulties are believed play a key role in anorexia nervosa (AN), there is uncertainty regarding what these difficulties might look like. Previous research has largely focused on a “disease model” of social-emotional processing in AN with little attention paid to positive emotions and experiences. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to obtain a fuller picture of critical life events in AN.
Methods
Thirty-four participants aged 16-48 with current or past AN completed an online survey describing self-defined positive and difficult critical events.
Results
Two major themes were identified in the descriptions of positive critical events: Moments of celebration, reflecting external focus, and Unexpected positive outcomes, revealing negative biases. Difficult events were broadly divided into included eating disorder (ED) related and Non-ED life events, involving discussion of relational conflict and feeling unsupported.
Discussion
The findings suggest that AN is largely characterised by negative emotionality and bias. However, people with AN can live rich lives with positive experiences, which reflect reduced self-focused attention and increased “big-picture” thinking. Moreover, people with AN may be open to have their negative expectations challenged through corrective experiences. Together these findings be useful targets for further clinical research.
Keywords
anorexia nervosa, critical events, positive experiences, difficult experiences, information processing bias, thematic analysis
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Revision
Version 1
Posted 28 Sep, 2020
No community comments so far
Review #2 received
Received 22 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 22 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 16 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Sep, 2020
First submitted
On 22 Sep, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychology
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This preprint is under consideration at Journal of Eating Disorders. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Critical Incidents in Anorexia Nervosa: Patients’ Perspective
Jenni Leppanen
King's College London
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2814-4375
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Revision
Version 1
Posted 28 Sep, 2020
No community comments so far
Review #2 received
Received 22 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 22 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 16 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 24 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Sep, 2020
First submitted
On 22 Sep, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Although social-emotional difficulties are believed play a key role in anorexia nervosa (AN), there is uncertainty regarding what these difficulties might look like. Previous research has largely focused on a “disease model” of social-emotional processing in AN with little attention paid to positive emotions and experiences. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to obtain a fuller picture of critical life events in AN.
Methods
Thirty-four participants aged 16-48 with current or past AN completed an online survey describing self-defined positive and difficult critical events.
Results
Two major themes were identified in the descriptions of positive critical events: Moments of celebration, reflecting external focus, and Unexpected positive outcomes, revealing negative biases. Difficult events were broadly divided into included eating disorder (ED) related and Non-ED life events, involving discussion of relational conflict and feeling unsupported.
Discussion
The findings suggest that AN is largely characterised by negative emotionality and bias. However, people with AN can live rich lives with positive experiences, which reflect reduced self-focused attention and increased “big-picture” thinking. Moreover, people with AN may be open to have their negative expectations challenged through corrective experiences. Together these findings be useful targets for further clinical research.
Figure 1
Figure 2