title: Psychotherapeutic treatment of eating disorders improve dissociative experiences and impulse regulation but not alexithymia. A case series report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Eating disorders (EDs) are complex conditions associated with disability and a high rate of mortality. Typical characteristics of these diseases are dissociation, alexithymia and impulse dysregulation, all strategies dealing with negative emotions and regulate negative affect and anxiety. Our study aimed to assess the effectiveness of intensive psychological treatment for EDs, with particular reference to the above mentioned clinical characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight outpatients with eating disorders in psychotherapeutic treatment were evaluated in two stages after one year (T1 and T2), using the Eating Disorder Inventory II, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20, and the Dissociative Experiences Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wilcoxon test showed significant reductions in DES score as well as in two subscales of the EDI-2, Impulse Regulation and Body Dissatisfaction (I-EDI2 and BD-EDI2), while alexithymia levels did not show any difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We can confirm the effectiveness of psychotherapy in people with EDs as regards dissociative moments, impulsivity and body dissatisfaction. However, alexithymia remains unchanged, possibly because of its deep emotional nature.
authors.affiliation: PhD School in Neuroscience, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, MB, Italy - Specialist service for eating disorders, Psychiatry Operating Unit, San Gerardo Hospital Care Trust, Monza, MB, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caslini
authors.affiliation: Specialist service for eating disorders, Psychiatry Operating Unit, San Gerardo Hospital Care Trust, Monza, MB, Italy - Department of Psychology, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rivolta
authors.affiliation: Specialist service for eating disorders, Psychiatry Operating Unit, San Gerardo Hospital Care Trust, Monza, MB, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi Enrico
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Zappa
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrà
authors.affiliation: Specialist service for eating disorders, Psychiatry Operating Unit, San Gerardo Hospital Care Trust, Monza, MB, Italy - Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, MB, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000150:complications; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011613:Psychotherapy; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult