1st Edition
The Developmental Psychopathology of Eating Disorders Implications for Research, Prevention, and Treatment
Although eating problems--ranging from body dissatisfaction and dieting to anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa--can begin and typically have their roots in childhood, theory and research in developmental psychopathology and developmental psychology have not received substantial attention in eating disorders research. This book provides crucial background material from both fields, and then makes direct applications to numerous aspects of the field of eating disorders including theory, research, treatment, and primary prevention.
This book was born out of a transaction between frustration and optimism. The frustrations reflected the limitations of current knowledge about eating problems and disorders. Etiological "causes" which are sensitive and specific to eating disorders have been elusive. Although there is some understanding of risk factors, little is known about protective factors. This has made prevention, among other things, difficult. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the association between risk factors and disordered eating are poorly understood. For example, it is known that women are at greater risk than men are, but clinicians are hard- pressed to get beyond gender-based speculations and demonstrate why this is true.
The optimism grows from familiarity with the field of developmental psychopathology. It seems evident that this approach has much to offer the field of eating disorders. This book is an early step in the integration of developmental psychopathology into theorizing, research, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders. It addresses four specific goals:
* to introduce the principles and methodologies of developmental psychopathology,
* to review the work of developmental psychologists in several major areas of behavior relevant to understanding the causes, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders,
* to apply developmental psychopathology principles to the area of eating disorders, both in the form of theoretical models and in specific areas/issues raised by developmental psychopathology, and
* to discuss the implications of developmental approaches for prevention programs and treatments.
Biography
Michael P. Levine, Linda Smolak, Ruth H. Striegel-Moore
"...issues addressed in this impressive and stimulating volume, in which the contributing authors also provide a developmental framework for understading the multiple pathways forming disturbed eating behavior and attitudes. Their 16 scholarly articles provide generous coverage of normal and pathological development, research, theory, and methodology, and examine associated physical, familial, personality, sociocultural, and environmental agents.
—READINGS: A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health"This ambitious book is a well conceived and wonderfully comprehensive integration of current topics in developmental psychology and eating disorders. The editors have created a uniquely thorough text which brings together the perspectives of many disciplines on why eating disorders emerge in adolescence, and offers illuminating perspectives on a wide range of issues that surround eating disorders, including etiology, culture, genetics, risk, and media prevention. A rich and user friendly source of information for all professionals, students, and parents in search of a successful integration of different developmental paradigms and research methodologies with a clinical perspective."
—Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair
Director of Education, Prevention and Outreach, Harvard Eating Disorders Center"This is the most rigorous and comprehensive clarification of how developmental factors lead to eating disorders that I have encountered. It provides a rich understanding of how biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors interact to predispose an individual to develop eating and body image problems. Clinicians and researchers of a theoretical persuasion need to study this excellent volume of articles."
—Dr. Craig Johnson
Director, Eating Disorders Program, Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital and
