Relationship of Dissociative Experiences to Body Shape Concerns in Eating Disorders

Objective: To examine the relationship of dissociative experiences to body shape concerns in a Spanish sample of eating disorders as compared to a general population. Method: 118 eating disordered outpatients and 64 controls completed the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSE) and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Scores were compared within different diagnostic categories. Regression analysis was used to assess the predictive power of the DES and RSES for the BSQ. Results: 36 (30.5 per cent) patients were found to be at high risk for dissociative disorders. In patients, DES together with RSES scores were predictors for BSQ. Discussion: These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that, in a subgroup of eating disorders, dissociation might be associated to the degree of dissatisfaction towards their own body and it might represent a way of coping with a negative self-image. Copyright # 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.