Job Talk: Lindsay Bodell | Clinical Area

Title: Biopsychosocial Processes Underlying Eating Disorders
Abstract: Eating disorders are serious psychiatric illnesses that contribute to functional impairment, medical complications, and elevated mortality. An incomplete understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders has limited progress in the development of effective treatments. Thus, the overarching goal of my research is to understand core processes underlying eating disorder psychopathology that ultimately can inform interventions and improve treatment outcomes. My presentation will focus on some of my research related to identifying psychological and biological factors associated with Bulimia Nervosa (BN), an eating disorder characterized by binge eating (i.e., consumption of a large amount of food and feeling out of control while eating) and compensatory behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, fasting, excessive exercise). In particular, weight suppression, defined as the difference between one’s highest previous and current weight, has emerged as a robust risk factor for the onset and maintenance of BN; however, no studies had examined the links underlying this association. I will provide evidence for several psychobiological models of BN and discuss their clinical utility. Finally, I will discuss directions for future research.