Childhood Trauma in Eating Disorders

Increased prevalence of eating disorders has been found in populations that have experienced childhood trauma. Conversely, a history of childhood trauma has been found to be associated with increased eating disorder severity, as well as increased psychiatric comorbidity in patients with eating disorders. Available data suggest that individuals with eating disorders and a history of trauma exposure have a poorer response to treatment, and are more likely to end treatment prematurely compared to patients without a history of trauma. Potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between childhood trauma and eating disorders are reviewed-including psychological mechanisms such as emotion dysregulation, negative maladaptive cognitions, dissociation, and impulsivity, as well as neurobiological mechanisms-and clinical implications are proposed.