title: Emotional processing following recovery from anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence suggests that poor emotional processing perpetuates anorexia nervosa (AN); however, emotional processing following recovery and interactions between aspects of processing remain unknown. This study examined beliefs about emotions, emotional tolerance and avoidance and emotion suppression to preserve relationships in recovered AN patients. It also explored whether beliefs about emotion are related to emotional avoidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional between-groups design was employed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Currently ill (n = 40), recovered AN patients (n = 24) and a sample of healthy controls (n = 48) completed measures of clinical and demographic background in addition to the Beliefs About Emotions, Distress Tolerance and Silencing the Self emotional processing questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recovered and healthy control groups were comparable (except for higher externalised self-perception in recovered participants) and both had better emotional processing than current AN patients. Beliefs about emotions correlated with level of emotional avoidance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates functional levels of emotional processing following recovery from AN. It substantiates models proposing that maladaptive beliefs about emotions link to emotional avoidance and supports inclusion of these factors as treatment foci.
authors.affiliation: Section of Eating Disorders, Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK. anna.oldershaw@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oldershaw
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: DeJong
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hambrook
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Broadbent
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tchanturia
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires