Eating disorders among women: identity disclosure in biographical narratives

Eating disorders patients remain a real challenge for healthcare professionals due to low motivation for treatment, and high percentage of anorexia nervosa patient’s mortality. Although the symptoms of eating disorders are thoroughly described, especially the distorted body image, there is still a lack of understanding of its deeper psychopathology. Most authors acknowledge that there is an inherent lack of identity in eating disorders patients. Therefore, the aim of this work is to analyze the identity of women suffering from eating disorders, which is revealed in biographical narratives. The study involved 6 women (aged 21-40 years old) who had symptoms of eating disorders (bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder). The research data was collected in a semi-structural biographical narrative interview, analyzed by hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Four main themes were revealed, which reflected intrapsychic identity processes described in the second individuation theory (Blos, 1967): separation-individuation, integration of traumatic experience, ego continuity, romantic relations. This work can be used as basis for further research and contribute to more effective psychological support and psychotherapy for patients with eating disorders