Autonomic arousal and conflict avoidance in anorexia nervosa: a pilot study

Authors: Lattimore P.^{1, *}; Gowers S.²; Wagner H.L.³

Source: European Eating Disorders Review, Volume 8, Number 1, February 2000 , pp. 31-39(9)

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract:

This study examined the nature and relevance of autonomic arousal during conflict negotiation between anorexic patients and their mothers. Twenty anorexia nervosa patients and 14 psychiatric control patients, and their mothers were monitored for heart rate and skin conductance levels during low- and high-conflict discussion tasks, and self-reports of family functioning. Anorexic patients showed significantly greater arousal during high-conflict discussions than their mothers and psychiatric controls. Mothers of anorexics showed a slowing of heart rate during the high-conflict task compared to their daughters. Heightened arousal in anorexic patients during high-conflict discussions was strongly associated with self-reported difficulties in family problem solving. These results suggest that a relationship exists between autonomic arousal and conflict avoidance in anorexia nervosa which warrants further investigation. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa; conflict; arousal; family

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-0968(200002)8:1<31::AID-ERV298>3.0.CO;2-4

Affiliations: 1: University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK 2: University of Liverpool, UK 3: University of Manchester, UK *

Publication date: 2000-02-01

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