Self-perceptions of emotion regulation in people with anorexia nervosa
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What influences self-perceptions of emotion regulation in people with anorexia nervosa?
IRAS ID
193479
Contact name
Danielle Drinkwater
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 28 days
Research summary
The purpose of this research is to describe how people with anorexia nervosa understand and manage their experience of emotions, and what influences this.
At present there is little agreement about which psychological approach is most effective in treating anorexia nervosa and there has been a call to develop novel interventions (Cooper, 2005, Lopez, Davies & Tchanturia, 2012). Recently a number of psychological theories explaining the role of emotions in eating disorders, and anorexia nervosa specifically, have begun to emerge. Common themes among such theories include people with anorexia having a predisposition for heightened emotional arousal, in which individuals experience emotions as overwhelming or particularly aversive, and avoidance of emotional experiences, either through prevention, numbing or regulation (Haynos & Fruzzetti, 2011; Wildes & Marcus, 2011).
Research in the early stages looking at the potential efficacy of emotion-focused treatments, including Emotion Acceptance Behaviour Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy, has been encouraging (Dolhanty & Greenberg, 2009; Wildes et al., 2014), but arguably these interventions require refining. By adopting a ‘back to basics approach’ this study seeks to explore the role of emotion regulation in anorexia nervosa further, in the hope of informing new therapeutic interventions.
People with anorexia nervosa will be informed about the research through either their local eating disorder service or the BEAT website and invited to take part. Using semi-structured interviews participants will be asked about their experience of anorexia, as well as their experience of emotion regulation and what influences this, including any therapy related change. Responses will be analysed according to a social constructionist version of grounded theory. Participants will also be invited to review and comment on a summary of the research findings if they wish. The total duration of participation for each participant will be between 6-12 months.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0176
Date of REC Opinion
1 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion