How enduring and multi-faceted self-disgust threatens psychological recovery from anorexia nervosa: a qualitative enquiry

Abstract

Purpose

Self-disgust appears to be a prominent feature in anorexia nervosa (AN), which might help explain why AN is often such a persistent disorder. Little is known about how this emotion can impact on recovering from this disorder. This study aims to develop our understanding of how people experience the emotion of self-disgust after physical recovery from AN.

Design/methodology/approach

Twelve female participants who reported previously having had a clinical diagnosis of AN but had physically recovered according to their EDE-Q scores took part in a semi-structured interview to explore their experiences of recovery and the role self-disgust played within this. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore the data.

Findings

Three themes were identified within the data to explain the experiences of self-disgust in those with AN: continued self-disgust following physical “Recovery”, multiple manifestations of self-disgust in recovery and increasing self-disgust in recovery as a driver for relapse.

Practical implications

Self-disgust was something each participant appeared to experience often, despite being physically recovered from AN. Disgust-based reactions to the self are enduring and highly resistant to change even whilst other aspects of the disorder become less potent. Self-disgust is multi-faceted and may trigger relapse as the signs of improvement and behaviours inherent in recovering were generally viewed as disgusting to the individuals.

Originality/value

Self-disgust is an emotion that continues to affect people with AN despite physical recovery. The recovery process itself is not linear and self-disgust is enduring and may cause those affected to relapse. Considering this emotion within therapeutic intervention may encourage those with AN to accept their recovered self.

Citation

Bell, K., Coulthard, H., Wildbur, D. and Williamson, I. (2024), "How enduring and multi-faceted self-disgust threatens psychological recovery from anorexia nervosa: a qualitative enquiry", Mental Health Review Journal, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 301-317. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-06-2022-0039