EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION IN EATING DISORDERS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF AFFECTIVE PROCESSES IN ANOREXIA, BULIMIA AND BINGE EATING

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) significantly affect physical and emotional health. Initial emotional dysregulation is associated with less progress in treatment, whereas advances in emotional regulation (ER) lead to reduced symptoms. This study compared the emotional specificities between anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) to develop more effective therapeutic interventions. Through an exploratory and descriptive review of 13 scientific articles (2019-2024) and
3 books, patterns of emotional dysregulation and strategies for ED were analyzed. In AN there is less use of adaptive ER strategies, associated with low body weight and high levels of alexithymia. In BN, there is a direct relationship between anxiety, stress, and compulsion-purging behaviors, with the use of maladaptive strategies. In BED, compulsion acts as a maladaptive strategy to relieve negative emotions, especially guilt. It is concluded that emotional dysregulation affects AN, BN, and BED in specific ways. Interventions such as CBT, DBT, and emotion regulation training reduced symptoms and compulsions. Adaptive strategies, such as mindfulness and self-compassion, improved emotional management and decreased self-criticism, promoting effective therapeutic outcomes.