Repetitive Negative Thinking and Eating Disorders: A Meta-Analysis of the Role of Worry and Rumination

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2021 Jun 2

PMID 34073087

Citations 10

Authors

Sara Palmieri

Giovanni Mansueto

Simona Scaini

Gabriele Caselli

Walter Sapuppo

Marcantonio M Spada

Sandra Sassaroli

Giovanni Maria Ruggiero

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The role of worry and rumination in eating disorders (EDs) is controversial. This meta-analysis of the literature is aimed at clarifying the relationship between repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and EDs. In accordance with the PRISMA criteria, a comprehensive search of the literature was conducted on PubMed and PsycInfo from inception to March 2021. Search terms: "eating disorder/anorexia/bulimia/binge eating disorder" AND "worry/rumination/brooding/repetitive thinking". A manual search of reference lists was also run. Forty-three studies were included. RNT was found to be associated with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. A moderating effect was found for "presence/absence ED diagnosis" and "subtype of ED symptom". ED patients showed higher RNT than the general population. No differences were observed for age or between worry and rumination in the magnitude of their association with EDs.

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