Mentalizing and Binge Eating Disorder

Abstract

AbstractBinge eating disorder (BED) is presumed to be the most common kind of eating disorder. However, the knowledge of BED in general society is low, and treatment options have been lacking or not been of sufficient quality. This article applies mentalizing as a theoretical framework to analyze descriptions of BED. The study suggests that descriptions of social, emotional, and cognitive characteristics of BED can be interpreted as impaired mentalizing. However, several of these impaired mentalizing traits can also be seen as a result of cultural and social tendencies, more so than a pathological component solely linked to BED. This article aims to gain deeper insights into the social, emotional, and cognitive aspects of BED. We refer to interviews with three adult females who earlier struggled with BED. Our theoretical and empirical exploration indicates that BED touches upon a wide array of areas related to mentalizing, such as inner confusion, psychological reality, and (social) self-concept.