Cited by 121Eating Disorders and BehaviorsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

Conceptualizing eating disorder psychopathology using an anxiety disorders framework: Evidence and implications for exposure-based clinical research

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Schaumberg, Katherine, Reilly, Erin E., Gorrell, Sasha, Levinson, Cheri A., Farrell, Nicholas R., Brown, Tiffany A., Smith, Kathryn M., Schaefer, Lauren M. +3 more·2021·Clinical Psychology Review

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) and anxiety disorders (ADs) evidence shared risk and significant comorbidity. Recent advances in understanding of anxiety-based disorders may have direct application to research and treatment efforts for EDs. The current review presents an up-to-date, behavioral conceptualization of the overlap between anxiety-based disorders and EDs. We identify ways in which anxiety presents in EDs, consider differences between EDs and ADs relevant to treatment adaptions, discuss how exposure-based strategies may be adapted for use in ED treatment, and outline directions for future mechanistic, translational, and clinical ED research from this perspective. Important research directions include: simultaneous examination of the extent to which EDs are characterized by aberrant avoidance-, reward-, and/or habit-based neurobiological and behavioral processes; improvement in understanding of how nutritional status interacts with neurobiological characteristics of EDs; incorporation of a growing knowledge of biobehavioral signatures in ED treatment planning; development of more comprehensive exposure-based treatment approaches for EDs; testing whether certain exposure interventions for AD are appropriate for EDs; and improvement in clinician self-efficacy and ability to use exposure therapy for EDs.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101952

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  • Anxiety-based models suggest that the physical subdomain of anxiety sensitivity specifically is a potential mechanism linking eating disorders and anxiety disorders.

    “All domains of AS may be elevated in EDs, however, anxiety-based models of EDs would suggest that it is the physical subdomain specifically that is a potential mechanism linking EDs and ADs (Schaumberg et al., 2021).”

    From Early reduction in anxiety sensitivity predicts greater reduction in disordered eating and trait anxiety during treatment for bulimia nervosa. (2024) · cites this paper as Schaumberg et al., 2021

    The Core symptom characteristics section describes interoceptive discomfort and fear as relevant to eating-disorder symptoms. The Interoceptive exposure section discusses sensitivity to physical sensations in eating disorders and anxiety-related conditions. These passages support a possible shared physical-sensation mechanism, but they do not identify the physical subdomain of anxiety sensitivity specifically as that mechanism (page numbers unavailable). (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Anxiety-based models of eating disorders propose that aversive learning experiences with body sensations lead to hypersensitivity to interoceptive cues, and that eating disorder behaviors reduce discomfort and are negatively reinforced over time.

    “Anxiety-based models of EDs propose that aversive learning experiences with body sensations lead to hypersensitivity to interoceptive cues; ED behaviors reduce that discomfort and are thereby negatively reinforced over time (Schaumberg et al., 2021).”

    From Early reduction in anxiety sensitivity predicts greater reduction in disordered eating and trait anxiety during treatment for bulimia nervosa. (2024) · cites this paper as Schaumberg et al., 2021

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  • Anxiety is a transdiagnostic factor involved in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa and is predictive for its course and treatment outcomes.

    “A transdiagnostic factor that is involved in the development, maintenance of, and is predictive for the course and treatment outcomes of anorexia nervosa is anxiety [10–20].”

    From Anxiety matters: a pilot lab study into food, weight, and virtual body exposure in anorexia nervosa (2024) · cites this paper as [19]

    The Abstract and Core symptom characteristics sections describe anxiety and fear-related avoidance as relevant to the development and maintenance of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa. The section on therapeutic process variables says avoidance can influence treatment success, but does not establish that anxiety predicts the course or treatment outcomes of anorexia nervosa specifically. No page numbers are provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Exposure therapy has recently been used for eating disorders to target fear and anxiety processes thought to maintain eating pathology.

    “Exposure therapy has more recently been applied to the treatment of eating disorders (EDs; for a review see Butler & Heimberg, 2020) to target fear and anxiety-related processes theorized to maintain eating pathology”

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Thomas JJ, & Eddy KT (2018). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: children, adolescents, and adults. Cambridge University Press.
  2. Waller G, Cordery H, Corstorphine E, Hinrichsen H, Lawson R, Mountford V, & Russell K (2007). Cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders: A comprehensive treatment guide. Cambridge University Press.
  3. Waller G, Turner H, Tatham M, Mountford VA, & Wade T (2019). Breif Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Non-underweight Patientts: CBT-T for Eating Disorders. Routledge.

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Authors
Schaumberg, K., Reilly, E. E., Gorrell, S., Levinson, C. A., Farrell, N. R., Brown, T. A., Smith, K. M., Schaefer, L. M., Essayli, J. H., Haynos, A. F., & Anderson, L. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • Hofstra University (US)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • University of Louisville (US)
  • Rogers Behavioral Health (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
  • Sanford Health (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
Corresponding author
Schaumberg, Katherine
Venue
Clinical Psychology Review
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-02
Volume
83
Pages
101952
ISSN
0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3101149835
Cited by
121
References
253
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 9
FWCI
0.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
eating disorders, anxiety disorders, comorbidities, exposure therapy, avoidance, reward, habit, nutritional status, neurobiology, treatment adaptation, clinician self-efficacy
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Humans, Implosive Therapy, Psychopathology

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