A Pilot Study of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Females with Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Existing literature emphasizes the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and anxiety in anorexia nervosa (AN), as potential maintaining factors of the disorder. Apart from possible implications for treatment, there are no existing studies experimentally manipulating IU in AN. The current pilot study aimed to shed light into the causal links between these constructs, in a sample of twenty-nine (N= 29) females clinically diagnosed with AN. It was firstly examined if IU can be manipulated in AN, by inducing high or low levels of IU, with the use of short stories and visual analogue scale (VAS) questions. Following the IU manipulation, it was explored if IU predicts anxiety. Findings showed no differences between the high-IU and low-IU groups after the induction of IU, revealing the IU manipulation was not successful, and therefore disconfirming our second hypothesis. Limitations, suggestions for future research and clinical implications are also included in the present paper.