Trauma and dissociation in obese patients with and without binge eating disorder: A case – control study

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the presence of childhood trauma, psychological and somatoform dissociation in obese (OB) and overweight patients with and without binge eating disorder (BED). In total, 34 patients with BED diagnosis were compared with a sex, age and social class matched sample of 34 OB patients without diagnosis of BED and with a control sample consisting of 34 healthy people (NC) with normal weight. Traumatic experiences were assessed by means of the Traumatic Experiences Checklist. Psychoform and somatoform dissociation were assessed respectively by means of the Dissociation Questionnaire and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire. BED patients reported significantly more childhood traumatic experiences, psychological and somatoform dissociation, compared to OB patients and NC sample. Moreover, OB patients showed more traumatic experiences compared to the NC sample. BED patients showed higher levels of childhood neglect and emotional abuse compared to the OB patients and NC sample. No significant differences were shown between OB patients and NC subjects with respect to level of psychological and somatoform dissociation. Our results confirm the necessity of evaluating emotional abuse and neglect in adults with BED, and the importance of assessing psychoform and somatoform dissociation in these patients. Tailored treatment strategies based on trauma and dissociation may improve outcomes among patients with BED and a history of childhood trauma.

Keywords

• binge eating disorder
• obesity
• childhood trauma
• psychological dissociation
• somatoform dissociation