Mentalization and Personality: What Is Their Role in the Unfolding of Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults?

Mentalization represents the mental process by which individuals make sense of their own and others’ behaviors in terms of intentional mental states. Mentalization is a capacity that is impaired in different psychopathological domains, such as eating disorders (EDs) and personality disorders (PDs). Mentalization and personality both have been hypothesized to play a crucial role in the unfolding of EDs. However, the nature of this relationship remains far from clear. In this chapter, we aim to critically discuss the roles of mentalization and personality in the unfolding of ED pathology, with a specific focus on the population of young adults that is critically at risk for mental health problems. We will discuss previous studies on the presence of specific personality and mentalizing profiles in EDs.