Relationship between self-soothing, aloneness, and evocative memory in bulimia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between characteristics of self-soothing ability, the capacity for evocative memory, and aloneness was investigated in a clinical sample of 50 bulimia nervosa (BN) patients.


METHODS
Individuals meeting DSM-III-R criteria for BN who participated in a randomized trial of guided imagery completed measures of Soothing Receptivity and a modified version of the UCLA-Loneliness scale, resulting in the Aloneness/Evocative Memory Scale.


RESULTS
A lower level of soothing receptivity (indicating a decreased capacity for self-soothing) was correlated with a decreased capacity for evocative memory. A lower level of soothing receptivity and decreased capacity for evocative memory were associated with a greater experience of aloneness.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the role of affect regulation and the experience of aloneness in BN and the need to develop treatments to specifically address these features of the illness.
Esplen
M J
MJ
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Hospital/Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Garfinkel
P
P
Gallop
R
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008132:Loneliness; D011939:Mental Recall; D010555:Personality Inventory