Mentalization and Eating Disorders: Transdiagnostic Mechanisms, Clinical Presentations, and Treatment Implications

Eating Disorders (EDs) represent one of the most complex and compelling mental health issues of our times, with a mortality rate significantly higher than the general population (e.g. with a five-fold higher risk of death in patients with Anorexia Nervosa compared to the general population) and with high levels of comorbidities with different psychopathological domains. Despite substantial advances in diagnostic classification and treatment development, current models often struggle to account for the marked heterogeneity of clinical presentations, trajectories, and treatment responses observed across ED populations. Different authors have therefore sought to develop a more nuanced understanding of EDs and of the current controversies surrounding them in recent years. This Research Topic aims to contribute to this literature by providing new insights and findings on EDs and eating pathology. Specifically, this Research Topic aims to unfold the characteristics of Eating Disorders (EDs) with a focus on mentalization and closely related socio-cognitive processes (i.e. social cognition, metacognition, mindfulness, theory of mind), which have been recognized as transdiagnostic variables useful in understanding the development, onset, maintenance and more generally on the unfolding, and treatment of EDs.The primary goal is to advance a clinically meaningful and transdiagnostic understanding of EDs by positioning mentalization (and related variables) as a key mechanism linking eating pathology with broader dimensions of psychopathology. Difficulties in understanding one’s own and others’ mental states may contribute to impaired emotion regulation, identity instability, interpersonal dysfunction, and maladaptive eating-related behaviors. Previous studies have examined the possible presence of mentalizing profiles in EDs, with promising results, however existing findings remain fragmented across diagnostic categories, methodological approaches, and theoretical frameworks, limiting their direct clinical applicability. This Research Topic seeks to address these gaps by advancing an integrative, clinically grounded understanding of mentalization in EDs, and by shedding light on the specific relationship between mentalization and related variables to psychopathology, with a specific focus on symptoms of eating disorders, and on pathology that is related to EDs (such as personality disorders).This Research Topic is mostly focused on the clinical presentations of EDs rather than on the theoretical descriptions of the construct. Ultimately, the goal is to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice by demonstrating how mentalization-informed models can enhance diagnostic formulation, treatment planning, and outcome evaluation in eating disorders.Contributions are expected to move beyond descriptive accounts and address mentalization as a clinically meaningful mechanism that helps explain heterogeneity in symptom expression, comorbidity patterns, and treatment response. We particularly welcome manuscripts addressing:• The complexity of ED diagnosis: works that aim at bridging the gap between the diagnostic manuals and the clinical presentations of EDs, which can help at providing insights on the transdiagnostic processes of EDs. • Transdiagnostic variables: what is the role of mentalization, metacognition, social cognition, theory of mind and mindfulness (as an example which can be broadened) in the unfolding of EDs. More specifically: o (a) mentalization (and related variables) profiles and impairments across different ED presentations;o (b) the relationship between mentalization, ED and key comorbid disorders and transdiagnostic processes (e.g. emotion regulation, identity functioning, interpersonal processes, and personality pathology);o (c) clinical and diagnostic implications of mentalization-based formulations of ED, including their relevance for assessment and case conceptualization;o (d) treatment processes and outcomes in interventions targeting mentalization or related capacities in EDs.• Qualitative and mixed-method approaches exploring lived experience, patient and clinician perspectives, and relational aspects and treatment processes of mentalization in EDs.Empirical, clinical, and methodologically innovative contributions are encouraged. Topic editors: Giulia Gagliardini, Monika Olga Jańczak, Almut Zeeck Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79303/mentalization-and-eating-disorders-transdiagnostic-mechanisms-clinical-presentations-and-treatment-implications