New directions in research on somatic concerns in individuals with eating disorders

Abstract

Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) experience somatic deficits that may contribute to the maintenance of ED psychopathology. This paper proposes new directions to consider using in future research examining somatic concerns in EDs. We reviewed articles examining ED psychopathology and somatic sensations (e.g., interoception, exteroception, and proprioception) and propose methodologies extending upon existing methods. We identified several methodological limitations within the extant literature, such as sensations examined, measurement issues, and sample selection. As such, we posit that future work 1) considers a wider range of somatic sensations––with specific emphasis on ED specific somatic sensations, 2) develops measures with strong psychometric properties, and 3) examines somatic deficits transdiagnostically. The proposed future research directions are intended to advance scientific inquiry by increasing methodological rigor in studying somatic sensations and EDs to ultimately improve ED assessment and increase efficacy in ED treatment.