Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-rkxrd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-18T14:42:30.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

How Can Social Mentality Theory Help Us Understand Eating Disorder Presentations? A Scoping Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2018

Georgina Mullen Open the ORCID record for Georgina Mullen [Opens in a new window]  and
Gary O'Reilly
Georgina Mullen*
Affiliation:
University College Dublin, School of Psychology, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland Health Service Executive, Ireland St Patrick's Mental Health Services, Dublin, Ireland
Gary O'Reilly
Affiliation:
University College Dublin, School of Psychology, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
*
Address for correspondence: Georgina Mullen, University College Dublin, School of Psychology, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland. Email: georgina.mullen@ucdconnect.ie
Get access

Abstract

This scoping review used social mentality theory (SMT) as a framework to identify and integrate relevant eating disorder systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A systematic search of the PsycINFO database was conducted, using terms from SMT and eating disorder literature. Eighteen systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that those with eating disorders also experience a number of relationship difficulties, in childhood and/or adulthood, related to attachment style, caregiver experiences, family functioning, social rank, social cognition, and self-compassion. The identification of these social difficulties is established in the eating disorder literature. SMT can provide a theoretical framework to understand how evolved motives to relate to others may contribute to these difficulties.

Keywords

eating disordersocial mentalitycompassion-focused therapyscoping review
Type
Review Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 9 , 2018 , e18
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
*Anastasiadou, D., Medina-Pradas, C., Sepulveda, A.R., & Treasure, J. (2014). A systematic review of family caregiving in eating disorders. Eating Behaviors, 15, 464–477.Google Scholar
*Arcelus, J., Haslam, M., Farrow, C., & Meyer, C. (2013). The role of interpersonal functioning in the maintenance of eating psychopathology: A systematic review and testable model. Clinical Psychology Review, 33, 156–167.Google Scholar
*Arcelus, J., Yates, A., & Whiteley, R. (2012). Romantic relationships, clinical and sub-clinical eating disorders: A review of the literature. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 27, 147–161.Google Scholar
Arksey, H., & O'Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 18, 19–32.Google Scholar
*Bora, E., & Kose, S. (2016). Meta-analysis of theory of mind in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: A specific impairment of cognitive perspective taking in anorexia nervosa? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 49, 739–749.Google Scholar
*Bornstein, R.F. (2001). A meta-analysis of the dependency-eating disorders relationship: Strength, specificity, and temporal stability. Journal of Psychopathology and behavioral assessment, 23, 151–162.Google Scholar
Bowles, T., Kurlender, M., & Hellings, B. (2011). Family functioning and family stage associated with patterns of disordered eating in adult females. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 28, 47–60.Google Scholar
*Braun, T.D., Park, C.L., & Gorin, A. (2016). Self-compassion, body image, and disordered eating: A review of the literature. Body Image, 17, 117–131.Google Scholar
Buss, D.M. (2005). The handbook of evolutionary psychology. Wiley.Google Scholar
*Bundock, L., Howard, L.M., Trevillion, K., Malcom, E., Feder, G., & Oram, S. (2013). Prevalence and risk of experiences of intimate partner violence among people with eating disorders: A systematic review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47, 1134–1142.Google Scholar
*Caglar-Nazali, H.P., Corfield, F., Cardi, V., Ambwani, S., Leppanen, J., Olabintan, O., … Treasure, J. (2014). A systematic review and meta-analysis of ‘Systems for Social Processes’ in eating disorders. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 42, 55–92.Google Scholar
*Caslini, M., Bartoli, F., Crocamo, C., Dakanalis, A., Clerici, M., & Carra, G. (2016). Psychosomatic Medicine, 78, 79–90.Google Scholar
Cozolino, L. (2014). The neuroscience of human relationships: Attachment and the developing social brain (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Norton.Google Scholar
Crow, S.J., Peterson, C.B., Swanson, S.A., Raymond, N.C., Specker, S., Eckert, E.D., & Mitchell, J.E. (2009). Increased mortality in bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 1342–1346.Google Scholar
*DeJong, H., van den Eynde, F., Broadbent, H., Kenyon, M.D., Lavender, A., Startup, H., & Schmidt, U. (2013). Social cognition in bulimia nervosa: A systematic review. European Psychiatry, 28, 1–6.Google Scholar
Dinsdale, N., Mokkonen, M., & Crespi, B. (2016). The ‘extremem female brain’: Increased cognitive empathy as a dimension of psychopathology. Evolution and Human Behaviour, 37, 323–336.Google Scholar
Dixon-Woods, M., Cavers, D., Agarwal, S., Annandale, E., Arthur, A., Harvey, J., … Sutton, A.J. (2006). Conducting a critical interpretive synthesis of the literature on access to healthcare by vulnerable groups. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 6, 35.Google Scholar
Fariburn, C.G., Cooper, Z., Doll, H.A., O'Connor, M.E., Bohn, K., Hawker, D.M., … Palmer, R.L. (2009). Transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy for patients with eating disorders: A two-site trial with 60-week follow-up. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 311–319.Google Scholar
Farstad, S.M., McGeown, L.M., & von Ranson, K.M. (2016). Eating disorders and personality, 2004–2016: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 46, 91–105.Google Scholar
Fernandez, S., & Pritchard, M. (2012). Relationships between self-esteem, media influence and drive for thinness. Eating Behaviours, 13, 321–325.Google Scholar
Fonagy, P., Luyten, P., Moulton-Perkins, A., Lee, Y., Warren, F., Howard, S., … Lowyck, B. (2016). Development and validation of a self-report measure of mentalizing: The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. PLOS ONE, 1–28.Google Scholar
Fonagy, P., Target, M., Steele, H., & Steele, M. (1998). Reflective Functioning Scale manual. Unpublished manuscript, London.Google Scholar
*Gale, C.J., Cluett, E.R., & Laver-Bradbury, C. (2013). A review of the father-child relationship in the development and maintenance of adolescent anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 36, 48–69.Google Scholar
Gale, C., Gilbert, P., Read, N., & Goss, K. (2014). An evaluation of the impact of introducing compassion focused therapy to a standard treatment programme for people with eating disorders. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 21, 1–12.Google Scholar
Galsworthy-Francis, L., & Allan, S. (2014). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anorexia nervosa: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 34, 54–72.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P. (1989). Human nature and suffering. Hove, UK: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P. (1995). Biopsychosocial approaches and evolutionary as aids to integration in clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2, 135–156.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P. (2005). Social mentalities: A biopsychosocial and evolutionary reflection on social relationships. In Baldwin, M.W. (Ed.), Interpersonal cognition (pp. 299–335). New York, NY: Guilford.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P. (2010). Compassion focused therapy: Distinctive features. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Gilbert, N. (2009). Disclosure of eating disorders and subsequent help seeking. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham University, UK.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P. (2014). The origins and nature of compassion focused therapy. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53, 6–41.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P. (2015). The evolution and social dynamics of compassion. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 9, 239–254.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P., Broomhead, C., Irons, C., McEwan, K., Bellew, R., Mills, A., … Knibb, R. (2007). Development of a striving to avoid inferiority scale. British Journal of Social Psychology, 46, 633–648.Google Scholar
Gilbert, P., McEwan, K., Irons, C., Broomhead, C., Bellew, R., Mills, A., … Gale, C. (2009). The dark side of competitions: How competitive behavior and striving to avoid inferiority are linked to depression, anxiety, stress and self-harm. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 82, 123–136.Google Scholar
Goss, K. & Allan, S. (2010). Compassion focused therapy for eating disorders. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 3, 141–158Google Scholar
Goss, K., & Gilbert, P. (2002). Eating disorders, shame and pride: A cognitive-behavioral functional analysis. In Gilbert, P. & Miles, J. (Eds.), Body shame: Conceptualization, research & treatment. Hove, UK: Brunner-RoutledgeGoogle Scholar
Hay, P. (2013). A systematic review of evidence for psychological treatments in eating disorders: 2005–2012. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46, 462–469.Google Scholar
*Holtom-Viesel, A., & Allan, S. (2014). A systematic review of the literature on family functioning across all eating disorder diagnoses in compassion to control families. Clinical Psychology Review, 34, 29–43.Google Scholar
Henry, J.D., Cowan, D.G., Lee, T., & Sachdev, P.S. (2015). Recent trends in testing social cognition. Current Opinions in Psychiatry, 28, 133–140.Google Scholar
Het, S., Vocks, S., Wolf, J.M., Hammelstein, P., Herpertz, S., & Wolf, O.T. (2015). Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 78, 260–267.Google Scholar
Huke, V., Turk, J., Saeidi, S., Kent, A., & Morgan, J.F. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders in eating disorder populations: A systematic review. European Eating Disorders Review, 21, 345–351.Google Scholar
*Jewell, T., Collyer, H., Gardener, T., Tchanturia, K., Simic, M., Fonagy, P., & Eisler, I. (2016). Attachment and metallization and their association with child and adolescent eating pathology: A systematic review. International Journal of Eating Disorder, 49, 354–373.Google Scholar
*Jones, A., Lindekilde, N., Lubeck, M., & Clausen, L. (2015). The association between interpersonal problems and treatment outcome in the eating disorder: A systematic review. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 69, 563–573.Google Scholar
Johnstone, L., Boyle, M., with Cromby, J., Dillon, J., Harper, D., Kinderman, P., Longden, E., Pilgrim, D., & Read, J. (2018). The power threat meaning framework: Towards the identification of patterns in emotional distress, unusual experiences and troubled or troubling behaviour, as an alternative to functional psychiatric diagnosis. Leicester, UK: British Psychological Society.Google Scholar
Kelly, A.C., Carter, J.C., & Borairi, S. (2014). Are improvements in shame and self-compassion early in eating disorder treatment associated with better patient outcomes? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47, 54–64.Google Scholar
Kelly, A.C., Zuroff, D.C., Foa, C.L., & Gilbert, P. (2010). Who benefits from training in self-compassionate self-regulation? A study of smoking reduction. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29, 727–755.Google Scholar
Keys, A., Brozek, J., Henshel, A., Mickelson, O., & Taylor, H.L. (1950). The biology of human starvation (vols. 1–2). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
Kozlowska, K., Walker, P., McLean, L., & Carrive, P. (2015). Fear and the defense cascade: Clinical implications and management. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 23, 263–287.Google Scholar
Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O'Brien, K.K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5, 1–9.Google Scholar
Liotti, G., & Gilbert, P. (2011). Mentalizing, motivation, and social mentalities: Theoretical consideration and implications for psychotherapy. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 84, 9–25.Google Scholar
Lutter, M., & Nestler, E.J. (2009). Homeostatic and hedonic signals interact in the regulation of food intake. The Journal of Nutrition, 139, 629–632.Google Scholar
Matos, M., Ferreira, C., Duarte, C., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2015). Eating disorders: When social rank perceptions are shaped by early shame experiences. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 88, 38–53.Google Scholar
McCluskey, U. (2005) To be met as a person: The dynamics of attachment in professional encounters. London: Karnac.Google Scholar
Mullen, G., Dowling, C., Doyle, J., & O'Reilly, G. (2018). Experiences of compassion focused therapy in eating disorder recovery: A qualitative model. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
McEwan, K., Gilbert, P., & Duarte, J. (2012). An exploration of competitiveness and caring in relation to psychopathology. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 19–36.Google Scholar
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P.R. (2012). An attachment perspective on psychopathology. World Psychiatry, 11, 11–15.Google Scholar
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G., & The PRISMA Group. (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Medicine, 6, e1000097.Google Scholar
Murphy, R., Straebler, S., Cooper, Z., & Fairburn, C.G. (2010). Cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders. Psychiatry Clinics of North America, 33, 611–627.Google Scholar
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). (2004). Eating disorders: Core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and related eating disorders. London, England: Author.Google Scholar
Nisbett, R.E., & Wilson, T.D. (1977). Telling more than we can know: Verbal reports on mental processes. Psychological Review, 84, 231–259.Google Scholar
Pascuzzo, K., Moss, E., & Cyr, C. (2015). Attachment and emotion regulation strategies in predicting adult psychopathology. SAGE Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015604695Google Scholar
Pedersen, S.H., Lunn, S. & Poulsen, S. (2012). Reflective functioning in 70 patients suffering from bulimia nervosa. European Eating Disorder Review, 20, 303–310.Google Scholar
Pedersen, S.H., Poulsen, S., & Lunn, S. (2015). Eating disorders and mentalization: High reflective functioning in patients with bulimia nervosa. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 63, 671–694.Google Scholar
Pinto-Gouveia, J., Ferreira, C., & Duarte, C. (2014). Thinness in the pursuit for social safeness: An integrative model of social rank mentality to explain eating psychopathology. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 21, 154–165.Google Scholar
Pohjolainen, V., Koponen, S., Rasanen, R., Roine, R.P., Sintonen, H., & Karlsson, H. (2016). Long-term health-related quality of life in eating disorders. Quality of Life Research, 25, 2341–2346.Google Scholar
Polivy, J., Zeitlin, S.B., Herman, P.C., & Beal, A.L. (1994). Food restriction and binge eating: A study of former prisoners of war. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 409–411.Google Scholar
Ranzenhofer, L.M., Engel, S.G., Crosby, R.D., Haigney, M., Anderson, M., McCaffery, J.M., & Tanofsky-Kraff, M. (2016). International Journal of Eating Disorders, 49, 197–201.Google Scholar
Razzoli, M., Pearson, C., Crow, S., & Bartolomucci, A. (2017). Stress, overeating, and obesity: Insights from human studies and preclinical models. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 76(Pt. A) 154–162.Google Scholar
Steinhausen, H.C., & Weber, S. (2009). Outcome of bulimia nervosa: Findings from a quarter century of research. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 1331–1341.Google Scholar
Schore, A.N. (2000). Attachment and the regulation of the right brain. Attachment & Human Development, 2, 23–47.Google Scholar
Sloman, L., & Taylor, P. (2016). Impact of child maltreatment on attachment and social rank systems: Introducing an integrated theory. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 17, 172–185.Google Scholar
Stroup, D.F., Berlin, J.A., Morton, S.C., Olkin, L., Williamson, G.D., Rennie, D., … Thacker, S.B. (2000). Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: A proposal for reporting. Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOUSE) group. Journal of the American Medical Association, 283, 2008–2012.Google Scholar
*Tasca, G.A., & Balfour, L. (2014). Attachment and eating disorders: A review of current research. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47, 7, 710–717.Google Scholar
*Tetley, A., Moghaddam, N.G., Dawson, D.L., & Rennoldson, M. (2014). Parental binding and eating disorder: A systematic review. Eating Behaviors, 15, 49–59.Google Scholar
Troop, N.A., & Hiskey, S. (2013). Social defeat and PTSD symptoms following trauma. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52, 365–379.Google Scholar
*Vall, B.A., & Wade, T.D. (2015). Predictors of treatment outcome in individuals with eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48, 946–971.Google Scholar
Valk, S.L., Bernhardt, B.C., Trautwein, F.M., Bockler, A., Kanske, P., Guizard, N., Collins, D.L., & Singer, T. (2017). Structural plasticity of the social brain: Differential change after socio-affective and cognitive mental training. Science Advances, 4, e1700489.Google Scholar
von Hausswolff-Juhlin, Y., Brooks, S.J., & Larsson, M. (2015). The neurobiology of eating disorders — A clinical perspective. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 131, 244–255.Google Scholar
World Health Organization. (1992). The International Classification of Disease — Tenth Edition (ICD-10). Geneva, Switzerland: Author.Google Scholar
*Zachrisson, H.D., & Skarderud, F. (2010). Feelings of insecurity: Review of attachment and eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 18, 97–106.Google Scholar