The association between maladaptive daydreaming and eating and obsessive-compulsive disorders in the general population: the mediating role of alexithymia.

IF 3.7 3区 医学 Q1 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY
Alessia Renzi, Bleona Bytyqi, Rachele Mariani
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is a recently defined clinical condition characterized by an excessively immersive utilization of fantasy and imagination which can significantly impact both professional and social life. International literature has linked MD to obsessive-compulsive symptoms, but its association with alexithymia remains largely unexplored, and its connection to eating disorder symptoms is even more neglected. As a marker of affect regulation difficulties, alexithymia may heighten the risk and severity of MD, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Therefore, the general aim of the present study is to contribute to the study of MD in the general population, by examining potential associations between MD levels, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and affect regulation capabilities. Additionally, the study aims to examine whether alexithymia mediates the relationship between eating and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, respectively, and MD levels. 562 participants (mean age = 27.16 years; SD = 10.21; 68% females) completed an online survey comprising: a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS), the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), and the Obsessional Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44). MDS score was positively related to TAS-20 total, difficulties in identifying and describing feelings as well as with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Age showed a weak negative association with MDS. Regarding the mediation models, alexithymia significantly amplified the impact of eating/obsessive-compulsive symptoms on MD. The associations emerging by present study seem to support a common functioning of these clinical conditions based on maladaptive/compulsive behaviours/thought/fantasy, as strategy to regulate painful emotions. Further studies comparing these clinical populations are still needed.

一般人群中不适应白日梦与饮食和强迫症之间的联系:述情障碍的中介作用。
不适应白日梦症(MD)是一种新近被定义的临床疾病,其特征是过度沉浸于幻想和想象,严重影响职业和社会生活。国际文献已将MD与强迫症联系起来,但其与述情障碍的关系在很大程度上仍未被探索,其与饮食失调症状的联系更是被忽视。作为情感调节困难的标志,述情障碍可能增加MD、饮食失调和强迫症状的风险和严重程度。因此,本研究的总体目的是通过检查MD水平、饮食失调、强迫症症状和影响调节能力之间的潜在关联,为普通人群的MD研究做出贡献。此外,本研究旨在探讨述情障碍是否介导饮食和强迫症分别以及MD水平之间的关系。562名参与者(平均年龄27.16岁,SD = 10.21, 68%为女性)完成了一项在线调查,包括社会人口统计问卷、不适应白日梦量表(MDS)、20项多伦多述情量表(TAS-20)、饮食态度测试(EAT-26)和强迫性信念问卷(OBQ-44)。MDS评分与TAS-20总分、情感识别和描述困难、饮食失调和强迫症状呈正相关。年龄与MDS呈弱负相关。关于中介模型,述情障碍显著地放大了饮食/强迫症状对MD的影响。本研究出现的关联似乎支持这些基于适应不良/强迫行为/思想/幻想的临床条件的共同功能,作为调节痛苦情绪的策略。还需要进一步的研究来比较这些临床人群。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
8.80
自引率
4.30%
发文量
154
审稿时长
6-12 weeks
期刊介绍: The original papers published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience deal with all aspects of psychiatry and related clinical neuroscience. Clinical psychiatry, psychopathology, epidemiology as well as brain imaging, neuropathological, neurophysiological, neurochemical and moleculargenetic studies of psychiatric disorders are among the topics covered. Thus both the clinician and the neuroscientist are provided with a handy source of information on important scientific developments.
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