Characteristics of self-regulation in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes with and without eating disorders: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
Pathology of the regulative mechanisms of self seems to be connected with eating disorders (EDs). The present study aimed to explore the hypothesis that there are differences in self-regulation in adolescent girls with Type 1 diabetes with and without EDs.


METHODS
A cross-sectional design was employed comparing patterns of self-regulation in adolescent girls with Type 1 diabetes with and without EDs in two eating status groups.


METHODS
For the presence of EDs, 76 adolescent girls with Type 1 diabetes were assessed. Of these, 23 were diagnosed with an ED. In addition, dimensions of self-regulation as conceptualized in terms of Kohuts' psychodynamic theory of self were assessed.


RESULTS
Adolescent girls with Type 1 diabetes and an ED were higher in three aspects of self-regulation - negative body self, object depreciation, and narcissistic gain from illness - in comparison with their peers without EDs.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to show evidence of deficits in self-regulation in adolescent girls with Type 1 diabetes and EDs. The importance of evaluating parameters of self-regulation for treatment planning for these youths is outlined.
Grylli
Vasileia
V
Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. vasileia_grylli@hotmail.com
Wagner
Gudrun
G
Berger
Gabriele
G
Sinnreich
Ursula
U
Schober
Edith
E
Karwautz
Andreas
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors