Psychopathological dimensions in eating disorders (E.D.)

The exploration, the comprehension and the definition of the underlying psychopathological dimensions and/or concomitant to Eating Disorders are everything but exhaustive. On the one hand, the ED present themselves as dysfunctional, transnosographic and multiform behaviour, on the other hand, they tend to mask various underlying pathologies, including structural, pathological descriptions. While the coexistence of the depressive, anxious and personality spectrum pathology is recognised, it is not yet clear if the eating pathology, in its various forms, should be understood as an expression of illness, therefore also structured in an organic dimension, or if, on the other hand, it is a defensive attempt to ‘self-cure’ another affection of psychic nature and origin. Both theories are probably valid, and in the clinical practise we can outline syndromes of the first kind, the second kind, or even mixed. The main purpose of a psychiatric interview is that of expanding the observation viewpoint of the problem, to look for new connections with other hidden dimensions and to “reframe” the symptom in a more complex and integrated dimension with the other parts of the personality. But what are the themes that are frequently more noticeable in people affected by ED? For this purpose, using some cases as starting points for reflection, we will present psychopathological focus areas that seem to be particularly significant in the observation clinic of the ED: feelings and emotions, the depressive spectrum, the rapport with the body, and that with the family.