Proposing a New Syndrome Through Establishing Content Validity: Emotional Deprivation Disorder

Abstract

Psychiatrists Anna Terruwe and Conrad Baars identified as part of their affirmation therapy what they termed emotional deprivation disorder (EDD), a grouping of symptoms that may develop in adulthood due to a deficit of affirming love in childhood. Clinicians need knowledge of the symptoms of EDD to identify persons presenting with these symptoms and improve treatment outcomes. This article provides an overview of a qualitative research study that established provisional content validity for EDD. A Delphi study was chosen as the method for this research because it is a structured process that helps to stimulate and refine group conclusions. Eleven therapists participated in this study, answering three rounds of open-ended questions. Data regarding criteria for EDD were coded, and three themes emerged. These three themes matched criteria established by Terruwe and Baars for EDD, supporting provisional content validity for this syndrome.