Self‐disgust and disgust sensitivity are increased in anorexia nervosa inpatients, but only self‐disgust mediates between comorbid and core psychopathology

Abstract

Objective The possible role of abnormal disgust processing in the development and course of anorexia nervosa (AN) has been emphasized in theoretical models and research. However, disgust toward external stimuli and self‐disgust have not yet been investigated together in a clinical sample of AN patients. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to measure these constructs and examine their role in shaping eating pathology in AN patients and healthy controls (HCs), considering comorbid depressive and anxiety psychopathology. The study also aimed at testing the possible mediational roles of both disgust types in the associations between comorbid psychopathology and eating disorders (EDs) characteristics. Method Altogether, 63 inpatients with AN and 57 HCs partook in the study. Participants completed the Eating Disorder Inventory‐3, State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory‐II, Disgust Scale–Revised and Self‐Disgust Scale. Results AN patients manifested higher self‐disgust and disgust sensitivity than HCs. In addition, self‐disgust predicted the severity of EDs characteristics and mediated the links of depressive symptoms and trait anxiety with EDs characteristics in both groups. Discussion Our findings imply the putative role of self‐disgust in the development of EDs psychopathology in HCs and in its maintenance in AN patients.

Gut–Brain Interaction Disorders and Anorexia Nervosa: Psychopathological Asset, Disgust, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms

“…All participants presented a pathological score in the disgust scale, confirming the findings of previous studies [36,37]. However, we did not find any significant difference in disgust among different DGBIs.…”

Autistic traits, sensory sensitivity and eating disturbances in a sample of young adults referring to a generalized mental health clinic

“…The two conditions also share common psychopathological features, such as cognitive rigidity, atypical social cognition, and difficulties in emotion processing [ 6 ]. Moreover, the existence of alterations in sensory sensitivity, a typical feature observed both in patients with ASD and in patients with ED [ 7 ], has been linked with higher ED severity, difficulties in regulating emotions, and distorted perception of body image; notably, it often remains present despite treatment and weight restoration [ 8 , 9 ]. Though both full-blown ASD forms and subthreshold autistic traits have been identified in ED beyond Anorexia Nervosa (AN) [ 5 ], most research has concentrated on the latter.…”

Linking disgust and misophonia: The role of mental contamination

“…Individual differences in the tendency to experience disgust (disgust propensity) and the tendency to experience it as aversive (disgust sensitivity) exist, both of which can interact and predispose an individual to psychopathology [9]. Disgust sensitivity and propensity have been associated with anorexia nervosa [10], post-traumatic symptoms [11], obsessivecompulsive symptoms [12], negative body image [13] and depression [14]. Disgust proneness has also been reported to be associated with distress and behavioral reactions in misophonia [5].…”