Search

Aim The objective of the study was to analyse shared commonalities and differences between bulimia nervosa (BN) and certain impulse-related disorders, namely compulsive buying (CB) and gambling disorder (GD), with respect to general psychopathology and personality traits. Methods A total of 188 female patients [50 BN without comorbid CB (BN−CB), 49 BN with comorbid CB (BN+CB), 53 GD and 36 CB] and 50 comparison non-psychiatric women participated in the current study. All patients were diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth revised edition, the Temperament and Character Inventory—Revised, and other clinical indices. Results A positive-growing trend was observed in psychopathology and personality traits across the four clinical groups. Comorbid BN with CB was associated with highest eating psychopathology and social anxiety. On Novelty Seeking, the CB, GD and BN+CB were similar to each other, whereas BN−CB presented a distinct profile. Moreover, the BN+CB group displayed more dysfunctional personality traits and higher general psychopathology. The clinical groups demonstrated overall higher levels of psychopathology compared with the control group. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that disorders with impulsive traits (CB, GD, BN+CB and BN−CB) follow a linear trend in general psychopathology and specific personality traits, but differ along specific personality and psychopathological dimensions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objective: Technology assisted guided self-help has been proven to be effective in the treatment of bulimia nervosa (BN). The aim of this study was to determine predictors of good long-term outcome as well as drop-out, in order to identify patients for whom these interventions are most suitable. Methods: One hundred and fifty six patients with BN were assigned to either 7months internet-based guided self-help (INT-GSH) or to conventional guided bibliotherapy (BIB-GSH), both guided by e-mail support. Evaluations were taken at baseline, after 4, 7, and 18months. As potential predictors, psychiatric comorbidity, personality features, and eating disorder psychopathology were considered. Results: Higher motivation, lower frequency of binge eating, and lower body dissatisfaction at baseline predicted good outcome after the end of treatment. Lower frequency of binge eating predicted good outcome at long-term follow-up. Factors prediciting drop-out were higher depression and lower self-directedness at baseline. Conclusion: Technology assisted self-help can be recommended for patients with a high motivation to change, lower binge-eating frequency and lower depression scores. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Goals This study aimed to analyse the association, commonalities and differences between obesity and eating disorders (ED). Method A total of 150 female patients [50 obese with bulimia nervosa (OB + BN), 50 obese with binge eating disorders (OB + BED), 50 obese without eating disorders (OB)] and 50 female healthy-eating/weight control (CG) volunteers participated in this study. Assessment All participants were assessed by the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2), the Symptom Checklist-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised. Results In general, all the groups differed significantly and showed linear trends (OB + BN > OB + BED > OB > CG) on general and eating psychopathology (SCL-90-R and EDI-2). Regarding personality traits, statistically significant differences across all four groups were found on Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness. Whereas some symptoms were shared in extreme weight conditions, others were specifically related to ED. Conclusions The presence of binge and purge symptomatology in obese patients is clinically relevant. These findings help to understand the relationship between Obesity and ED. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objective This study aimed to examine whether there is an association between individual, social and family influences and dysfunctional eating patterns early in life and the likelihood of developing a subsequent underweight eating disorder (ED) or obesity. Method The total sample comprised 152 individuals (underweight ED, n = 45; obese patients, n = 65; healthy controls; n = 42) from Barcelona, Spain. The Cross-Cultural Questionnaire (CCQ) was used to assess early eating influences as well as individual and family eating patterns and attitudes towards food. Results Even though a few shared eating influences emerged for both groups, unique factors were also observed. Whereas relationship with friends, teasing about eating habits by family members and the mass media were of specific relevance to the underweight ED group, the patient's own physical appearance, body dissatisfaction, teasing about eating habits by friends, teasing about body shape by family members and dysfunctional eating patterns were unique to obesity. Conclusions Overlapping environmental risk factors provide evidence for integral prevention and intervention approaches that simultaneously tackle a range of weight-related problems. The unique factors might be important for targeting high-risk individuals. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objectives The goals of this study were to evaluate changes in personality traits in outpatients with bulimia nervosa and specific clinical predictors of such personality changes, after cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Method The sample comprised 100 purging bulimia nervosa outpatients (DSM-IV-TR). Assessment measures included the Eating Disorders Inventory-2, Symptom Check List Revised and Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised, as well as other clinical and psychopathological indices. All measures were administered before and after 22 weeks of group CBT. Results The temperament traits of Harm Avoidance and Reward Dependence and the character traits of Self-Directedness and Self-Transcendence changed after CBT. Pre–post CBT reduction in Eating Disorders Inventory-2 total score predicted the decrease and increase in Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness, respectively. Conclusions Results suggest that group CBT in outpatient women settings influence changes in some personality traits, which appear mainly related to an overall improvement in eating pathology. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objective To compare the importance given to self/other standards by eating disorder (ED) patients and healthy controls. Methods A total of 392 individuals (240 consecutively referred and 152 healthy controls) took part in this study. All subjects were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision criteria and were female patients. Participants completed the Family Style, Self-Expectations and Emotional related subscales of the Cross-Cultural Questionnaire. Results Three domains (namely, family standards, self-achievement and physical appearance) were associated with ED. Family standards scores discriminated for the presence of an ED (area under receiver operating characteristic curve equals 0.89), the main predictors being a higher level of importance of physical appearance (p

Objective Decision making is impaired in female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), but it is unclear if the same impairment is present in male patients with AN. Method Decision making was assessed in 48 AN individuals (19 male and 29 female patients) and 61 healthy controls (20 male and 41 female patients) using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Results Both male and female patients with AN performed significantly worse than healthy controls on the IGT. No gender differences in IGT performance were found across groups. Male patients had higher impulsivity scores, but impulsivity had not predicted poor decision-making performance. Discussion Impaired decision making is present in male and female patients with AN. These data suggest that male patients with AN are very similar to female patients in decision making, and as a result, treatment approaches that seek to improve this ability should be similar in both genders. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objective To determine if male and female eating disorders differ in clinics, psychopathology and personality traits when compared with a healthy group. Methods Sixty male and 60 female eating disorder individuals (16% anorexia nervosa, 42% bulimia nervosa and 42% eating disorder not otherwise specified), matched for age and diagnostic, were compared with 120 healthy-eating participants (60 male and 60 female participants). All were diagnosed according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Assessment measures included Eating Disorder Inventory—2, Symptom Checklist—Revised and Temperament and Character Inventory—Revised, as well as other clinical and psychopathological indices. Results Male eating disorder participants reported significant lower laxative abuse (p = 0.020) and significant higher vomiting episodes (p = 0.019) than female eating disorder participants. Differences on drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction and some Symptom Checklist—Revised scales were found across genders in eating disorder participants. Male eating disorder participants scored significantly lower than female participants with eating disorders on harm avoidance, reward dependence and cooperativeness. Conclusions Although eating disorder clinical features were similar across genders, male eating disorder participants had less body image concern and general psychopathology than female eating disorder participants. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objective The present study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of a school-based prevention programme administered to adolescents; the purpose of the said programme was to reduce disordered eating attitudes and sociocultural influences on the internalisation of the aesthetical body ideal. Methods A total of 254 girls and 189 boys were assigned to a control (n = 201) or to two experimental conditions: media literacy programme (n = 143) and media literacy plus nutrition awareness programme (n = 99). Pretest, post-test (1 month later) and 7-month and 30-month follow-up measurements were taken using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) and the questionnaire on influences of aesthetic body ideal-26/cuestionario de influencias del modelo estetico corporal (CIMEC-26). Linear mixed-model analyses were conducted with a 2 × 3 × 3 ANOVA (sex × group × phase), adjusted by the baseline level. Results The participants from both prevention programmes scored lower than the participants in the control group at follow-up assessments on EAT-40 and CIMEC-26 scores. Discussion Both media literacy-based programmes can be effective interventions reducing long-term self-reported disordered eating attitudes and internalisation of the aesthetic body ideal in a universal mixed-sex school-going adolescent population. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Objective To assess the relationship between childhood sexual and physical abuse, and key attitudinal and behavioural aspects of eating disorders (ED). Method Participants included 708 female undergraduates in a Spanish public university, aged from 18 to 30. Abuse was measured by the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, and ED by the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Results 14.3% of the sample had suffered childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and 3.8% childhood physical abuse (CPA). With respect to ED attitudinal features, we observed an increased Weight Concern score among CSA survivors. No association was found between this kind of abuse and disordered eating behaviours, after adjusting for depression, anxiety, self-esteem, body mass index, age and socioeconomic status. An inverse relationship was found between CPA and ED attitudes measured by EDE-Q (Restraint, Weight Concern, Shape Concern and the Overall Score), whereas no association was found with the behavioural aspects of eating disturbances. Discussion After controlling for different risk factors, CSA appears to be related to an increased Weight Concern, whilst other ED attitudinal features and behaviours do not seem to be related to childhood abuse. The inverse relationship found is discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.