Relationship between self-soothing, aloneness, and evocative memory in bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between characteristics of self-soothing ability, the capacity for evocative memory, and aloneness was investigated in a clinical sample of 50 bulimia nervosa (BN) patients.

METHOD: Individuals meeting DSM-III-R criteria for BN who participated in a randomized trial of guided imagery completed measures of Soothing Receptivity and a modified version of the UCLA-Loneliness scale, resulting in the Aloneness/Evocative Memory Scale.

RESULTS

A lower level of soothing receptivity (indicating a decreased capacity for self-soothing) was correlated with a decreased capacity for evocative memory. A lower level of soothing receptivity and decreased capacity for evocative memory were associated with a greater experience of aloneness.

DISCUSSION: Results suggest the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the role of affect regulation and the experience of aloneness in BN and the need to develop treatments to specifically address these features of the illness.