The focus of this research database is on how stress affects women's health,

and options for treatment using mind-body therapies. 

If you are not a health care professional, see new "Medical Glossary" below.  

To obtain full summaries of the articles, see "How to Get Abstracts" below. 

Multi-center study throughout the US of 4651 women showed a prevalence of bulimia nervosa of 1%, binge eating disorder in early adulthood of 3.3% and middle adulthood 8.5%. These women had increased anxiety disorders, mood disorders, diabetes, health problems, insomnia and suicidal thoughts. Only 10% had been recognized by their physicians as having an eating disorder.

2001 Psychol Med 31;8:1455-66

Johnson, J. G., Spitzer, R. L., and Williams, J. B.

11771817 JA

Danish women with eating disorders felt themselves as being more exposed to stress, used more inefficient methods of coping, and had lower self-esteem than controls. With recovery from the eating disorder, however, these psychological characteristics normalized.

2001 Scand J Psychol 42;5:467-78

Blaase, H. and Elklit, A.

11835300 JA

In this large study of Australian women, disordered eating was strongly associated with stress and coping styles of avoidance, keeping-to-self and self-blame. However, these variables were not positive in a longitudinal fashion (i.e. stress did not predict future eating problems). The only consistent predictor was body image dissatisfaction.

2002 Int J Eat Disord 31;1:71-81

Ball, K. and Lee, C.

11473506 JA

In a random sample of 1157 Swedish women, 3.2% were considered to have an eating disorder. These women had less social support, less self esteem, higher body concern and avoidant coping behavior. It was hypothesized that identifying and modifying these risk factors could attenuate this disorder.

2001 Acta Psychiatr Scand 104;2:122-30

Ghaderi, A. and Scott, B.

9256590 MA

Extensive literature review by two teams of independent reviewers supported the concept that childhood sexual abuse is a risk factor for bulimia.

1997 J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36;8:1107-15

Wonderlich, S. A., Brewerton, T. D., Jocic, Z., Dansky, B. S., and Abbott, D. W.

Women with a history of childhood trauma were significantly more likely to drop out of therapy for eating disorder. Hypothesis was that these women were less able to make and maintain a trusting relationship with a therapist.

2001 Int J Eat Disord 30;2:138-48

Mahon, J., Bradley, S. N., Harvey, P. K., Winston, A. P., and Palmer, R. L.

8863064 JA

Psychiatric inpatients with a history of childhood sexual abuse had much higher eating disorder scores.

1996 Int J Eat Disord 20;2:129-34

Zlotnick, C., Hohlstein, L. A., Shea, M. T., Pearlstein, T., Recupero, P., and Bidadi, K.

Meta-analysis of 53 studies showed a small significant relationship between childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders.

2002 Int J Eat Disord 31;2:136-50

Smolak, L. and Murnen, S. K.

10949100 CT

Women with eating disorder tendencies, not enough for an eating disorder diagnosis, exhibited increased blood pressure and heart rate reactivity to stress, increased cortisol excretion, greater symptoms of depression and anxiety, lower self-esteem, lees social support, and greater emotional impact of daily stressors.

2000 Psychosom Med 62;4:539-48

Koo-Loeb, J. H., Costello, N., Light, K. C., and Girdler, S. S.

12036808 JA

PET brain scans measured blood flow during hunger and satiety in men and women. Neuroanatomic brain responses indicate possible sex-specific cognitive and emotional differences in processing a meal.

2002 Am J Clin Nutr 75;6:1017-22

Del Parigi, A., Chen, K., Gautier, J. F., Salbe, A. D., Pratley, R. E., Ravussin, E., Reiman, E. M., and Tataranni, P. A.

Bulimic patients had significantly lower serotonin binding sites, independent of abuse or not, and abused women showed significantly lower baseline cortisol levels, independent of eating disorder or not.

2001 Arch Gen Psychiatry 58;9:837-43

Steiger, H., Gauvin, L., Israel, M., Koerner, N., Ng Ying Kin, N. M., Paris, J., and Young, S. N.

10559714 CT

During a guided imagery experience of a stressful situation, bulimic patients experienced intense hunger and a desire to binge compared to two control groups. However, there was no associated change in physiologic parameters i.e. pulse, BP, respiration. Due to this physical dissociation, the authors suggest that treatments focusing on bodily sensations i.e. relaxation techniques, might not be effective.

1999 Psychother Psychosom 68;6:333-40

Tuschen-Caffier, B. and Vogele, C.

Bulimic adolescents treated with massage therapy had lower depression and anxiety scores, lower cortisol levels and higher dopamine levels.

1998 Adolescence 33;131:555-63

Field, T., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., Field, T., Fierro, K., Henteleff, T., Mueller, C., Yando, R., Shaw, S., and Burman, I

11921000 JA

Case report of a single imagery session completely stopping bulimic behavior (maintained at 14 weeks), after 8 cognitive behavior therapy sessions had reduced symptom behaviors by 50%.

2002 Int J Eat Disord 31;3:352-7

Ohanian, V.

9854276 RCT

6 weeks of guided imagery therapy in bulimic patients led to a 74% reduction in binge behavior, improved attitudes about eating and body weight, and decreased feelings of aloneness.

1998 Psychol Med 28;6:1347-57

Esplen, M. J., Garfinkel, P. E., Olmsted, M., Gallop, R. M., and Kennedy, S.

9527955 R,T

Review of theoretical concepts about patients with bulimia, and successful use of guided imagery therapy. Provides scripts and case history example.

1998 J Psychother Pract Res 7;2:102-18

Esplen, M. J. and Garfinkel, P. E.

11082793 CT

Women with eating disorders and body dysphoria were able to change their interpretation of body-related information when helped to do so with imagery.

2000 Eat Weight Disord 5;3:143-51

Williamson, D. A., Perrin, L., Blouin, D. C., and Barbin, J. M.

10590454 RCT

In women with bulimia, a lower level of ability to self sooth was associated with a greater experience of aloneness, which was associated with a decreased capacity for evocative memory with guided imagery.

2000 Int J Eat Disord 27;1:96-100

Esplen, M. J., Garfinkel, P., and Gallop, R.

1289956 R,T

Review of the literature on use of hypnosis with eating disorders, explaining, discussing and giving examples of: general relaxation and calmness, guided imagery, teaching self-hypnosis, ego-strengthening, direct and indirect suggestions for healing and recovery, cognitive restructuring and reframing, symbolic guided imagery, age progression ("back from the future" technique), metaphorical prescriptions, age regression and abreactions, and ego state therapy.

1992 Psychiatr Med 10;4:105-18

Torem, M. S.

JA

Case report of a woman with bulimia using art therapy for insight and treatment.

1999 Eat Weight Disord 4;2:95-102

Steinbauer, M., Muller, M., Laure, S., and Zapotoczky, H. G.