title: The anorexic voice and severity of eating pathology in anorexia nervosa.
abstract: Internal "anorexic voices" are commonly described by individuals with eating disorders. This study examines whether the perceived power and nature of that voice are related to eating pathology in anorexia nervosa.
  
  
  
  Sixty-three women and one man with an ICD-10 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa participated in this study (mean age = 27.3 years; mean BMI = 16.0). Participants completed questionnaires measuring severity of eating pathology, perceived voice power, and beliefs about voices, either at the start or during treatment.
  
  
  
  A more powerful anorexic voice was associated with more negative eating attitudes in this clinical group. However, BMI was related to a moderating effect, with the interaction of greater voice power and malevolence being associated with a lower BMI.
  
  
  
  These findings suggest the anorexic voice may function as a maintenance factor in anorexia nervosa. Cognitive models of hearing voices may be applicable to disorders other than psychosis. Further explorations are warranted. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:622-625).
authors.affiliation: Vincent Square Eating Disorders Service, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anorexia nervosa; anorexic voice; beliefs about voices; eating disorders