Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa
Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN) is a chronic eating disorder characterized by long-term starvation and its physical and psychological sequelae, and severe loss of quality of life. Interactions between neurobiological changes caused by starvation, vulnerability (personality) traits, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.545317/full |
| _version_ | 1818576932435918848 |
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| author | Annemarie van Elburg Annemarie van Elburg Unna Nora Danner Unna Nora Danner Lot Catharina Sternheim Mirjam Lammers Isis Elzakkers |
| author_facet | Annemarie van Elburg Annemarie van Elburg Unna Nora Danner Unna Nora Danner Lot Catharina Sternheim Mirjam Lammers Isis Elzakkers |
| author_sort | Annemarie van Elburg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Severe and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN) is a chronic eating disorder characterized by long-term starvation and its physical and psychological sequelae, and severe loss of quality of life. Interactions between neurobiological changes caused by starvation, vulnerability (personality) traits, and eating behaviors play a role. Several other factors, such as increased fear and decreased social cognition, have also been found in relation to SE-AN. With this in mind, we aim to add to the understanding of SE-AN by introducing the concept of mental capacity (MC), which refers to the ability to understand and process information—both on a cognitive and an emotional level—and then make a well-informed choice. MC may be an important construct within the context of SE-AN. Furthermore, we will argue how impaired decision-making processes may underlie, fuel, or contribute to limited MC in SE-AN. We will speculate on the importance of dysfunctional emotion processing and anxiety-related processes (e.g., a high intolerance of uncertainty) and their potential interaction with decision-making. Lastly, we will propose how these aspects, which to our knowledge have previously received little attention, may advise research and treatment or help in dealing with the “want but cannot” situation of life-threatening AN. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T06:21:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2f6b1dc36e45452184ee82090287bd39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T06:21:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-2f6b1dc36e45452184ee82090287bd392022-12-21T22:41:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402021-03-011210.3389/fpsyt.2021.545317545317Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia NervosaAnnemarie van Elburg0Annemarie van Elburg1Unna Nora Danner2Unna Nora Danner3Lot Catharina Sternheim4Mirjam Lammers5Isis Elzakkers6Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NetherlandsRintveld Center for Eating Disorders, Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Zeist, NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NetherlandsRintveld Center for Eating Disorders, Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Zeist, NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NetherlandsGGNet Centre of Mental Health, Apeldoorn, NetherlandsRintveld Center for Eating Disorders, Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Zeist, NetherlandsSevere and Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN) is a chronic eating disorder characterized by long-term starvation and its physical and psychological sequelae, and severe loss of quality of life. Interactions between neurobiological changes caused by starvation, vulnerability (personality) traits, and eating behaviors play a role. Several other factors, such as increased fear and decreased social cognition, have also been found in relation to SE-AN. With this in mind, we aim to add to the understanding of SE-AN by introducing the concept of mental capacity (MC), which refers to the ability to understand and process information—both on a cognitive and an emotional level—and then make a well-informed choice. MC may be an important construct within the context of SE-AN. Furthermore, we will argue how impaired decision-making processes may underlie, fuel, or contribute to limited MC in SE-AN. We will speculate on the importance of dysfunctional emotion processing and anxiety-related processes (e.g., a high intolerance of uncertainty) and their potential interaction with decision-making. Lastly, we will propose how these aspects, which to our knowledge have previously received little attention, may advise research and treatment or help in dealing with the “want but cannot” situation of life-threatening AN.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.545317/fullsevere enduring anorexia nervosamental capacitydecision-makingintolerance of uncertaintyemotion dysregulation |
| spellingShingle | Annemarie van Elburg Annemarie van Elburg Unna Nora Danner Unna Nora Danner Lot Catharina Sternheim Mirjam Lammers Isis Elzakkers Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa Frontiers in Psychiatry severe enduring anorexia nervosa mental capacity decision-making intolerance of uncertainty emotion dysregulation |
| title | Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa |
| title_full | Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa |
| title_fullStr | Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa |
| title_short | Mental Capacity, Decision-Making and Emotion Dysregulation in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa |
| title_sort | mental capacity decision making and emotion dysregulation in severe enduring anorexia nervosa |
| topic | severe enduring anorexia nervosa mental capacity decision-making intolerance of uncertainty emotion dysregulation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.545317/full |
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