What kind of illness is anorexia nervosa? Revisited: some preliminary thoughts to finding a cure
AbstractTwo decades have elapsed since our publication of ‘What kind of illness is anorexia nervosa?’. The question remains whether our understanding of anorexia nervosa and its treatment thereof has evolved over this time. The verdict is disappointing at best. Our current gold standard treatments remain over-valued and clinical outcomes are modest at best. Those in our field are haunted by the constant reminder that anorexia nervosa carries the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. This cannot continue and demands immediate action. In this essay, we tackle the myths that bedevil our field and explore a d...
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 11, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Baseline presentation of atypical anorexia nervosa in Singaporean adolescents: a retrospective cohort study
ConclusionHighlighting the severity of the illness, Singaporean adolescents with AAN presented with physical complications of malnutrition and had more severe eating disorder psychopathology and a higher frequency of other psychological comorbidities than did adolescents with AN. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 8, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Randomised controlled trial of neurostimulation for symptoms of anorexia nervosa (TRENA study): study protocol
DiscussionResearch into non-invasive brain stimulation as treatments for AN has potential to improve clinical outcomes for patients by comparing the relative efficacy and acceptability of both treatment modalities in the inpatient and at-home setting (i.e., for at-home tDCS) results from this study will provide important information for informing future larger clinical trials of these treatments for AN.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05788042. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 8, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Validation of a Latin-American Spanish version of the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA-LA) in Colombian and Nicaraguan adults
ConclusionThe Latin-American Spanish version of the BESAA (BESAA-LA) appears to be a psychometrically sound measure with good reliability, validity and invariance across gender and countries. These results support the use of this scale to measure body satisfaction/dissatisfaction in Latin American adult populations. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 8, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Risk of positive screening for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and night eating syndrome and associated risk factors in medical fellows in Northeastern Mexico: a multicenter study
ConclusionsThere was a higher risk of positive screening for AN or BN and NES in UMI and MR in our population. In the case of MR, those in first year have a higher risk of AN and BN. Timely diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in this population. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 7, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
‘Helper’ or ‘punisher’? A qualitative study exploring staff experiences of treating severe and complex eating disorder presentations in inpatient settings
ConclusionsThis research highlights an urgent need to consider the wellbeing of staff who works in eating disorder inpatient settings, as well as their support needs. Retention and recruitment strategies should be reviewed to reduce staff turnover and improve patient care. Further research should investigate whether specialist inpatient staff are impacted by symptoms of vicarious or direct trauma, moral injury and compassion fatigue. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 7, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Atypical antipsychotic use does not impact weight gain for individuals with extreme anorexia nervosa: a retrospective case –control study
ConclusionsWeight gain is often cited by individuals with AN as a feared side effect of antipsychotic medications. In this study, there was no difference in weight trends for individuals taking atypical antipsychotic medications during the refeeding process compared with individuals who were not. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 6, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of probable avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder among adult respondents to the National Eating Disorders Association online screen: a cross-sectional study
ConclusionsFindings from this study indicated that ARFID was prevalent among adult screen respondents and more common among individuals who were younger, male, non-White, Hispanic, and lower income relative to those with other eating disorders, at risk for an eating disorder, or at low risk. Individuals with possible ARFID frequently reported suicidal ideation and were rarely in treatment for an eating disorder. Further research is urgently needed to improve advances in the assessment and treatment of ARFID and improve access to care in order to prevent prolonged illness duration. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 4, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
The role of diabetes distress in Diabulimia
ConclusionWe believe this discovery warrants further research probing the prevalence of diabetes distress among people with diabulimia as well as other links between the two conditions. We advocate for a diabetes distress-informed approach to diabulimia treatment and for diabetes distress screening in every patient with type 1 diabetes. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - December 1, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Can we predict the development of acute gastric dilatation in patients with anorexia nervosa?
ConclusionsThere are no specific risk factors significantly associated with the development of acute gastric dilatation in patients with severe restrictive eating disorders. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for this condition when patients are experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. When promptly diagnosed and treated, outcomes are good. If diagnosis is delayed, the outcome can be dire. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - November 29, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Risk of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: predictive value of disease phenotype, disease activity and food literacy
ConclusionThis study shows that the risk of ARFID in the cohort of patients with IBD is associated with their inadequate food literacy levels. Therefore, this study supports the notion that patients with IBD should be assessed for food literacy regardless of whether they are currently diagnosed with ARFID. Specifically, for early identification of those at risk for ARFID in IBD, disease phenotype, disease activity, and food literacy should be routinely considered in clinical practice.The food literacy awareness of patients must be investigated and improved to predict the risk occurrence of ARFID and encourage healthy eatin...
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - November 28, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Premature termination of inpatient eating disorder treatment: Does timing matter?
ConclusionsPatients who terminated inpatient treatment early in their admissions differ from patients who terminated later and those who completed treatment. These differences have potential clinical implications for the clinical management of patients with severe eating disorders requiring inpatient admission.Trial registration This paper is not associated with a clinical trial. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - November 27, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Effectiveness of virtually delivered Body Project groups to prevent eating disorders in young women at risk: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial
This study therefore seeks to investigate the effect of virtualBody Project groups delivered by peers versus clinicians on ED risk factors, ED symptoms, and prospective ED onset.MethodsYoung women with body image concerns aged 16 –25 years (N = 441) will be included in the study and randomized to three conditions: (i) virtually deliveredBody Project groups led by clinicians; (ii) virtually deliveredBody Project groups led by peers; and (iii) psychoeducational control group. Participants will complete assessments at five timepoints over two years (pretest, posttest, 6-months, 1-year, and 2-years).DiscussionFurther r...
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - November 24, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Severe-Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN): a case series
ConclusionThis case series highlights the relevant issue of resistance to treatment, as well as medical and psychological complications that mark the life course of SE-AN patients. The chronicity of these disorders is determined by the overlapping of the disorder's ego-syntonic nature, the health system's difficulty in recognizing the problem in its early stages, and the presence of occupational and social impairment. (Source: Journal of Eating Disorders)
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - November 22, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
Inpatient hospital course and self-reported symptomatology in underweight adults with ARFID compared to age- and sex-matched controls with anorexia nervosa
This study aimed to compare hospital course and self-reported symptomatology of underweight adult inpatients with ARFID and sex- and age-matched patients with AN.MethodUnderweight adult patients with ARFID or AN admitted to a specialized, hospital-based behavioral treatment program completed measures of body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, bulimic symptoms, anxiety, depression, and personality traits. Demographic and treatment course data were abstracted from electronic medical records. Patients with ARFID (n = 69) were matched to those with AN (n = 69) based on sex and age.ResultsAdults with ARFID were closer...
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders - November 20, 2023 Category: Eating Disorders & Weight Management Source Type: research
