How are early maladaptive schemas and DSM-5 personality traits associated with the severity of binge eating?

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to (a) assess and compare personological traits and early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) of obese women with and without binge eating disorder (BED) and (b) identify the variables associated with the binge severity. METHOD: One hundred women (55 BED-obese and 45 non-BED-obese) completed psychopathological and personological self-report questionnaires. A forward stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to assess variables associated with binge eating severity. RESULTS: Not only psychopathological but also personological differences were evident between BED and non-BED-obese women. BED severity was significantly associated with depressivity, emotional deprivation, and defectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary findings suggest that BED patients exhibit some EMSs that could be linked to the construct of emotional neglect and specific personological traits closely related to depressive dimensions, emotional lability, and impulsivity. In particular, binge severity is associated with the pervasiveness of depressogenic cognitive schemas, as well as those of emotional deprivation and defectiveness.

The role of self-monitoring metacognition sub-function and negative urgency related to binge severity.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to test a model where low self-monitoring (a sub-function of first-person domain of metacognition) and high negative urgency lead to a worsening of binge severity through the mediation of emotional dysregulation in patients with binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD: Forty non-BED-obese and 46 BED-obese patients completed a battery of tests assessing metacognition and psychopathology. To test our hypothesized model, a structural equation model (SEM) using maximum likelihood estimation was conducted. RESULTS: BED-obese patients had significantly higher scores in BES, UPPS-P Negative urgency, and DERS total score, and lower MSAS self-monitoring than non-BED-obese, while no differences emerged in the MSAS others-monitoring subscale. The structural model demonstrated very good fit indexes (χ2 = 1.377, df = 2; p = .502, CMIN/DF = 0.688, CFI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.000, TLI = 1.047) and all paths were significant in the predicted directions. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings show that, low self-monitoring and high negative urgency lead BED-obese patients to express the worsening of binge severity through the mediation of emotional dysregulation. This knowledge may be helpful in the clinical practice to develop a tailor-made treatment. Accordingly, an approach through Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy could be attempted in BED-obese patients with these characteristics. Highlights Patients with BED exhibited low self-monitoring and high negative urgency. Binge severity was mediated by high level of emotional dysregulation. Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy may be useful for BED patients.