Dissociative States Presenting as an Eating Disorder

Abstract

Two cases are described in which dissociation was the underlying mechanism for the anorexic, bulimic, and purging symptomatology. The relationship between dissociation and eating disorders is discussed, and the literature pertaining to this subject is reviewed. It is suggested that patients with eating disorder, who are hypnotizable and show an underlying dissociation mechanism, may represent a special subgroup that responds favorably to hypnotherapeutic interventions. The importance of early detection of dissociative phenomena is emphasized for selecting proper treatment.