Abstract
Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms frequently co-occur. There are no prevalence rates of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in minors with AN in Belgium. Little is known about the relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and BMI or AN-related psychological characteristics. Method: The prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms was studied in 25 female minor with AN. Possible correlations were examined between compulsive symptoms and BMI or the psychological features of eating disorders. Data were collected by a file study, self-report questionnaire and a semi-structured interview with the patients. Results: 36% of the patients reported obsessive-compulsive symptoms with a clinically significant degree of severity. No association was found between the total number or severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and BMI. However, a significant association was found between the total number and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and several EDI-3 subscales such as 'low self-esteem', 'personal alienation', 'interoceptive problems', 'emotional dysregulation' and 'asceticism'. Additionally, a significant relationship was seen between the severity of compulsive symptoms and the subscales 'body dissatisfaction', 'interpersonal alienation', 'perfectionism'. These correlations were independent of age, eating disorder duration, type of treatment, subtype of AN or the use of psychotropic medication. Discussion: In our study group of minors with AN was the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms high. This study showed no significant association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and BMI. However, several eating disorder-related psychological characteristics did appear to be significantly associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Further research should determine whether there is a common cause or some form of causality between AN-related psychological characteristics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
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