The role of mindfulness on the psychological aspects of anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Objective Emotion regulation, perfectionism, and rumination are perpetuating factors in anorexia nervosa (AN). Mindfulness can be protective and therapeutic. We aimed to understand the relationship between these factors and mindfulness in AN. Methods 20 adolescent girls in the acute phase of the AN, 16 in remission, and 40 in the control group were evaluated. Results Mindfulness was lowest in the acute AN group. The difference in the acute AN group regarding body dissatisfaction, emotion dysregulation, perfectionism, and mindfulness disappeared after controlling for the effects of depression and anxiety. The predictors of disordered eating in the entire study population were body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms. Emotion regulation and perfectionism were the predictors of mindfulness in the acute AN group and the entire study population. When mindfulness decreased, concerns about body shape increased in both acute AN and remission groups, while dietary restriction and disordered eating behaviors increased only in the remission group. Discussion Emotion regulation difficulties in acute AN could be related to depression and anxiety. Mindfulness interventions for emotion regulation could be used for depression during the acute phase while for perfectionism in remission. Early intervention for depression and body dissatisfaction seems protective, and mindfulness could be an appropriate intervention.