Is post-traumatic embitterment disorder a yet unknown comorbidity of anorexia nervosa?

Abstract

Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) present more frequently a personal history of traumatizing life events than they manifest a comorbid, clinically characterized, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychological impact of traumatic events on patients with AN may also manifest through a post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED). In PTED, the traumatic event is perceived as unjust and the patient's response involves feelings of embitterment, rage, and helplessness along with repeated intrusive memories and a persistent negative change in mental well-being. Patients with AN share several psychopathological features with the clinical disturbed dimensions described in PTED. Accordingly, the comorbidity between PTED and AN needs further characterization. Moreover, specific therapeutic intervention known to improve symptoms of PTED such as cognitive-behavioral therapy based on wisdom psychology should be tested in selected patients with AN.