"באנו חושך לגרש": החוויה של אירועי חיים טראומטיים מנקודת הראות של נשים עם תסמונת אכילה לילית

Background: A positive link has been found between eating disorders (EDs) and traumatic life events, yet few studies have examined this relationship from the perspective of women patients with night eating syndrome (NES). Aim: An in-depth understanding of the long-term effects of traumatic life events on women with NES,by clarifying their perceptions of the experienced trauma.Method: A qualitative retrospective study, based on content analysis of assessment interviews,of women who sought treatment for NES in an ED center in Northern Israel. The subjects were 18Hebrew speaking women, (ages 19-60), who were diagnosed with NES.Results: Three main themes evolved. The first focused on incidents of traumatic life events which had been experienced as an intrusion to the body. The second focused on traumatic incidents related to parental neglect. The third focused on food and eating experienced as “enemy and lover.”Food acted both as a source of humiliation and disconnection and as a rescue anchor which during the night provided a sense of security and comfort, thus allowing for coping during the following day.Conclusions: The findings support and contribute both to knowledge regarding the relationship between traumatic life events, dissociation, EDs, and NES and to the role of night eating as a regulator enabling better coping and functioning during the following day.Clinical implications: Understanding the significant role of dissociation when coping with trauma in general and in the treatment of NES in particular.