Early maladaptive schemas: Similarities and differences between female patients with eating versus substance use disorders

Abstract

Personality features are considered to be important factors in the pathogenesis of both eating disorder (ED) and substance use disorder (SUD). This study investigates similarities and differences between these early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) (a) between female patients with ED (N = 179) or SUD (N = 169) and (b) between ED subtypes of the restrictive (N = 52), bulimic type (N = 127), or SUD. In total, 348 female patients (M = 29.95; SD = 8.40) completed the Young Schema Questionnaire. Multivariate analyses of covariance with EMS scales as dependent variables and (a) ED versus SUD and (b) ED subtypes versus SUD as independent variables and age and psychopathology as control variables revealed that ED patients scored significantly higher on Unrelenting Standards, Defectiveness, Social Undesirability, and Failure than did SUD patients. Additionally, when comparing ED subtypes and SUD, bulimic and SUD patients scored significantly higher on Insufficient Self-Control than did restrictive patients. These results confirm the role of EMSs in ED (subtypes) and SUD.

Obsessive–compulsive symptoms in female patients with an eating disorder with or without impulsive non‐suicidal self‐injury

“…In the present study, we investigated the association between ED subtypes and impulsive NSSI, as well as the presence of OC symptoms in different subtypes of ED patients with or without impulsive NSSI. The findings clearly showed that impulsive NSSI behaviours (e.g., cutting) are more prevalent in AN‐BP and BN compared to AN‐R patients, confirming our first hypothesis and findings of previous research (Cucchi et al., 2016; Pauwels et al., 2018). This high comorbidity between AN‐BP and BN and impulsive NSSI is often attributed to impulsiveness, which drives both behaviours (Cucchi et al., 2016; Pauwels et al., 2018).…”

“…The lifetime prevalence rates of NSSI in EDs vary widely and are situated between 25.4% and 55.2% (Cucchi et al., 2016). Patients with AN‐BP/BN often report significantly higher rates of lifetime/recent impulsive NSSI compared to AN‐R patients (Cucchi et al., 2016; Pauwels et al., 2018). Favaro and Santonastaso (2000) investigated the prevalence rates of compulsive/impulsive NSSI in ED subtypes, but did not find significant differences between ED subtypes with respect to compulsive/impulsive NSSI.…”

Associations Between Trauma, Early Maladaptive Schemas, Personality Traits, and Clinical Severity in Eating Disorder Patients: A Clinical Presentation and Mediation Analysis

“…social isolation, and defectiveness could be dysfunctional coping strategies that characterized ED patients and that might be taken under consideration, especially in people with traumatic history (Sarin and Abela, 2003;Dakanalis et al, 2014;Pauwels et al, 2018;Meneguzzo et al, 2020a).…”

Transdiagnostic vulnerability factors in eating disorders: A network analysis

“…As stated by P. J. Jones, Heeren, and McNally (2017), many non‐symptom variables play a causal role in the aetiology and maintenance of mental disorders and might enrich a ‘symptom network’. Indeed, non‐symptom variables such as personality traits, maladaptive schemata, and childhood maltreatment feature prominently in the aetiology, symptomatic expression, and maintenance of EDs (Cassin & Von Ranson, 2005; Farstad, McGeown, & von Ranson, 2016; Monteleone et al, 2019; Pauwels et al, 2018; Pugh, 2015; Rodgers et al, 2019). As such, well‐known vulnerability and protective mechanisms in patients diagnosed with ED could be included in network modelling.…”