Considerable research suggests that personality traits play a key role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Specifically, evidence indicates that anorexia nervosa (AN) temperament is characterized by anxiety, harm avoidance, novelty seeking, cognitive inflexibility and rigidity (Lilenfeld, 2011). In addition, many individuals with AN are oversensitive to criticism, unresponsive to rewards (e.g., praise), and inhibited. Conversely, personality traits associated with bulimia nervosa (BN) are impulsivity, emotional instability, and sensitivity to rewards (Wu et al., 2013). Individuals with BN are more likely to engage in greater novelty-seeking behavior and seek out rewarding stimuli. These temperament traits pose challenges to treatment as they significantly impact motivation. Using behavioral contracting can help improve engagement in and compliance with treatment by altering the patient’s experience with rewards and aversive consequences. Understanding the unique temperament profiles of patients with AN and BN can help clinicians make their behavioral contracts more effective. We will educate clinicians and parents on the temperament traits associated with AN and BN and discuss the ways in which they impact treatment compliance and motivation. We will assist clinicians and parents in developing individualized behavioral contracts increase positive behaviors (e.g., meal compliance) and decrease unhealthy behaviors (e.g., purging). 

Presenters:

Dr. Carly Hadjeasgari, Psy.D.

Dr. Carly Hadjeasgari is a postdoctoral fellow at the UCSD Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research in the adolescent program. She received her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University, San Diego in 2017 and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Dr. Hadjeasgari has extensive eating disorder treatment experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and their families at all levels of care. She has been trained in the neurobiologically-mediated temperament of eating disorders and guides her clinical interventions by helping her patients redirect their temperaments in more effective ways. Dr. Hadjeasgari’s clinical interest and practice has been primarily rooted in Family Based Therapy (FBT; aka, Maudsley), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and exposure and response prevention for anxiety disorders. Her clinical and research interests are in the development of innovative treatments and prevention programs for eating disorders. 

Dr. Stephanie Knatz-Peck, Ph.D.

Dr. Stephanie Knatz Peck is a clinical psychologist and program director for the Intensive Family Treatment (IFT) Programs at the UCSD Eating Disorders Treatment and Research Center. In addition to directing the adult and adolescent IFT programs, Dr. Peck is also involved in translational clinical treatment research focused on translating neurobiological research into applied clinical treatments for eating disorders. Dr. Peck is responsible for the development, testing, and oversight of novel clinical treatments for both adolescent and adults with eating disorders including NEWFED-TR (Neurobiology Enhanced with Family Eating Disorder Treatment). Her other research and clinical expertise includes pediatric obesity, parent management training, and multi-family therapy. 

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