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Biomedical subjects

Stephen Wonderlich

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen Wonderlich.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Treatment of bulimia nervosa: where are we and where are we going?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the extant treatment literature on bulimia nervosa and to offer suggestions for future research directions. METHOD: The available treatment studies regarding both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are reviewed. RESULTS: Both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy appear to play a role in the treatment of bulimia nervosa; however, available data suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy remains the treatment of choice. CONCLUSION: Additional work is clearly indicated regarding assisted and unassisted self-help. An enhanced form of CBT and the integrative cognitive-affective therapy both deserve further study. New approaches need to be piloted. More research is needed on treatment modeling.

Bulimia Nervosa↗
PubMed2005

Eating disorders and personality: a methodological and empirical review.

Methodological approaches utilized to evaluate models of the relationship between personality and eating disorders, as well as empirical support for each model, are reviewed. Limited prospective research suggests that negative emotionality, perfectionism, drive for thinness, poor interoceptive awareness, ineffectiveness, and obsessive-compulsive personality traits are likely predisposing factors. Limited family study research suggests that obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and anorexia nervosa share a common familial liability. Potential pathoplastic personality factors include Cluster B personality disorders and OCPD, which predict a poorer course and/or outcome, and histrionic personality traits and self-directedness, which predict a more favorable course and/or outcome. Future research should focus upon sophisticated prospective and family study research in order to best evaluate competing models of the eating disorder-personality relationship.

Anorexia Nervosa↗
PubMed2004

The use of alternative delivery systems and new technologies in the treatment of patients with eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current article is to review the literature regarding the use of alternative delivery systems, such as telemedicine, and new technologies, such as the use of hand-held computers, in the treatment of patients with eating disorders. METHOD: The literature is reviewed in the following areas: self-help (supervised and unsupervised), telemedicine, telephone therapy, e-mail, internet, computer software, CD-ROMs, portable computers, and virtual reality techniques. RESULTS: A growing literature suggests a number of alternative delivery systems hold promise, in particular permitting patients to access services who otherwise would not be able to receive treatment. Although most of these areas are early in their development, a growing literature supports the utility of several of these approaches. DISCUSSION: Although the literature in this area is limited, and the research base is small, a number of these technologies appear to hold substantial promise for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.

Computers↗
PubMed2004

Gender, ethnicity, self-esteem and disordered eating among college athletes.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare ethnic and gender differences regarding self-esteem and various disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among elite college athletes. METHOD: A total of 1445 student athletes from 11 Division I schools were surveyed using a 133-item questionnaire. RESULTS: White female athletes reported significantly lower self-esteem than Black female, Black male and White male athletes. Black female athletes' self-esteem was equal to both Black and White male athletes. White female athletes reported significantly higher drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and more disturbed eating behaviors than Black female and both groups of male athletes. DISCUSSION: The current study demonstrates that White female athletes appear to be most at risk for having difficulty with eating disorders. Their reporting of significantly lower self-esteem indicates that this may be a risk factor that is more characteristic of this ethnic group. Questions are raised about what factors exist in the Black female culture that protect them from low self-esteem and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Direct and retrospective assessment of factors contributing to compulsive buying.

Compulsive buying is a disorder that has begun to receive attention from researchers in recent years. The results of a handful of studies suggest that compulsive buying occurs in response to negative emotions and results in a decrease in the intensity of the negative emotions. In this investigation, we used interview and self-monitoring methods to evaluate the antecedents and consequences of compulsive buying in a sample of women who met criteria for compulsive buying on the compulsive buying scale (J. Consumer Res. 19 (1992) 459). As a group, the participants reported negative emotions as the most common antecedents to compulsive buying, and euphoria or relief from the negative emotions as the most common consequence of compulsive buying. These findings were consistent across the interview and self-monitoring assessment methods. The implications for assessment and treatment are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Does environment matter? A review of nonshared environment and eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Nonshared environmental influences are experiences that are unique to siblings reared in the same family. We review studies highlighting the importance of nonshared factors for the development of eating disorders and suggest areas for future research. METHODS: Findings from behavioral genetic studies of eating disorders as well as methodological issues are reviewed. RESULTS: Twin studies suggest that approximately 17%-46% of the variance in both anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) can be accounted for by nonshared environmental factors. Studies directly examining these influences are scarce, although initial data indicate that differential paternal relationships, body weight teasing, peer group experiences, and life events may account for the development of eating pathology in one sibling versus another. DISCUSSION: Additional research is needed to identify specific nonshared environmental influences on eating disorders such as differential parental and sibling treatment, disparate peer group characteristics, and differential experience of life events such as physical and sexual abuse.

Anorexia Nervosa↗
PubMed2002

Self-harm and bulimia nervosa: a complex connection.

There is some evidence to suggest that eating disordered individuals are unusually likely to engage in self-harm behavior. However, the nature of the relationship among self-harm, bulimia nervosa, and related constructs such as borderline personality disorder and multi-impulsive bulimia nervosa remains unclear. This article briefly addresses the nature of this relationship and discusses two possible mechanisms for self-harm behavior in bulimia nervosa. Additionally, a protocol for managing such behavior in the treatment of eating disordered individuals is presented.

Journal Article↗