Attachment Security and Perceived Expressed Emotion in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the attachment security and perceived expressed emotion of female adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and those without any psychiatric disorder and to compare the expressed emotion of their parents. We also aimed to investigate the relationships between these variables and the effects of depression and anxiety symptoms of the adolescents on attachment security, perceived expressed emotion and expressed emotion of the parents.

METHOD

The study enrolled 43 female adolescents aged 12-18 years diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and an age and economic statusmatched control group of 37 healthy female adolescents. Both groups completed the Eating Attitudes Test-40 (EAT-40), the Perceived Expressed Emotion Scale (PEES), the Short Form of Inventory of Parentand Peer Attachment (IPPA), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Screenfor Child Anxietyand Related Disorders (SCARED). Parents were assessed with the Expressed Emotion Scale (EES).

RESULTS

As compared to the control group, the female adolescents with anorexia nervosa had lower attachment security and higher perception of parental expression of criticism and hostility. Presence of depression and anxiety symptoms did not affect these results. The security of maternal attachment in the adolescents with anorexia nervosa predicted their perception of criticism and hostility in their mothers.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate the importance of assessing attachment security and perceived expressed emotion in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and the requirement of parental inclusion in the therapeutic process during follow up for implementation of appropriate interventions.