Anorexia Nervosa Subtypes Research Articles

Acute Activity Urges Predict Lower Early Weight Gain During Inpatient Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa.

Early weight gain is a primary goal in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) and associated with more favorable discharge weights and clinical outcomes. Activity urges, that is, a motivational state to engage in activity, have been suspected to delay early weight gain, but their prognostic role remains barely explored. Here, we investigated whether acute (state-like) activity urges at treatment onset would predict within-person weight gain in patients with AN during the initial 2 weeks of inpatient treatment. Adults with AN from an inpatient unit (N = 53) completed an activity urges measure at treatment onset, and weight changes were monitored for the duration of their treatment. Regression analyses, controlling for admission body mass index and other patient variables (i.e., patient age and AN subtype), found that higher state activity urges were associated with lower initial weight gain. Mediation analyses showed that differences in early weight changes further linked higher activity urges at admission to lower discharge weights. An activity urge cutoff value of 2.76 for distinguishing between cases with optimal and suboptimal initial weight gain is proposed. We discuss potential mechanisms of the link between activity urges and early weight gain and the implications of activity urges as a prognostic factor for improving weight restoration during AN treatment.

Structural connectivity modifications following deep brain stimulation of the subcallosal cingulate and nucleus accumbens in severe anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental health disorder characterized by significant weight loss and associated medical and psychological comorbidities. Conventional treatments for severe AN have shown limited effectiveness, leading to the exploration of novel interventional strategies, including deep brain stimulation (DBS). However, the neural mechanisms driving DBS interventions, particularly in psychiatric conditions, remain uncertain. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by examining changes in structural connectivity in patients with severe AN before and after DBS. Sixteen participants, including eight patients with AN and eight controls, underwent baseline T1-weigthed and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) acquisitions. Patients received DBS targeting either the subcallosal cingulate (DBS-SCC, N = 4) or the nucleus accumbens (DBS-NAcc, N = 4) based on psychiatric comorbidities and AN subtype. Post-DBS neuroimaging evaluation was conducted in four patients. Data analyses were performed to compare structural connectivity between patients and controls and to assess connectivity changes after DBS intervention. Baseline findings revealed that structural connectivity is significantly reduced in patients with AN compared to controls, mainly regarding callosal and subcallosal white matter (WM) tracts. Furthermore, pre- vs. post-DBS analyses in AN identified a specific increase after the intervention in two WM tracts: the anterior thalamic radiation and the superior longitudinal fasciculus-parietal bundle. This study supports that structural connectivity is highly compromised in severe AN. Moreover, this investigation preliminarily reveals that after DBS of the SCC and NAcc in severe AN, there are WM modifications. These microstructural plasticity adaptations may signify a mechanistic underpinning of DBS in this psychiatric disorder.

WAY-208466, a 5-HT6 receptor agonist, increases food motivation in primates: A behavioural and PET imaging study opening perspectives in eating disorders

The 5-HT6 receptor (5-HT6R) is highly expressed in the anterior striatum, a region involved in food-intake and anxiety-related behaviours that shows abnormal activity in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. Indeed, 5-HT6R antagonists decrease food motivation across species. Rodent studies have shown the acute anxiolytic properties of WAY-208466, a selective 5-HT6R agonist. Thus, we hypothesized that this agent could increase food motivation and decrease anxiety-related behaviours by impacting cortico-striatal circuits. We administered acute (0.1 mg/kg) and subchronic (0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg) intramuscular injections to four macaques performing a food-choice task and expressing spontaneous behaviours. We used PET imaging with the [18F]2FNQ1P specific tracer to determine 5-HT6R occupancy in several regions that could be linked with the induced behavioural changes. Acute and subchronic activation of 5-HT6R transmission led to a reversible increase in food motivation. WAY-208466 also decreased anxiety-like behaviours when given acutely but not subchronically. However, in the subchronic protocol, the higher dose led to increased activity characterized by movements and object-related behaviour expression. PET imaging revealed that these behavioural changes could be sustained by cortico-striatal circuits involved in food intake. These findings demonstrate that this 5-HT6R agonist subchronic treatment successfully increases food motivation but does not fully achieve the expected anxiolytic effect in monkeys. It suggests that targeting 5-HT6Rs may be a promising approach for treating the restrictive subtype of AN, which, unlike anxiety, has not been shown to benefit from treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

No Evidence for Cross-Sectional or Longitudinal Associations between Cognitive Flexibility Performances and Nutritional Status in a Cohort of Inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa.

According to the Cognitive-Interpersonal model of anorexia nervosa (AN), the combined influence of cognitive and socio-emotional difficulties would constitute vulnerability and maintaining factors. Poor cognitive flexibility is one of the endophenotypic candidates (i.e., a trait marker) of the disorder, but few studies have examined its association with illness symptom variations, notably weight status. The study aimed to evaluate the relationships between cognitive flexibility performances and nutritional status indices (BMI; body composition) at different times of the disorder. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between cognitive flexibility (TAP 2.1) and nutritional status indices, along with anxious and depressive (HAD) and eating disorder (EDE-Q) symptomatology were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses in a cohort of AN inpatients evaluated at hospital admission (N = 167) and discharge (N = 94). We found no or negligible associations between nutritional status and HAD or EDE-Q scores or cognitive flexibility performances, either cross-sectionally or longitudinally. Cognitive performances did not significantly differ between the AN subtypes. In agreement with the Cognitive-Interpersonal model of AN, cognitive flexibility is independent of nutritional status, as well as the AN subtype. It is also independent of the levels of anxious, depressive, or ED symptomatology. A new therapeutic approach targeting cognitive flexibility and intolerance to change could benefit severely emaciated people with AN, regardless of disease subtype and level of dysphoria.

Non-interpersonal traumatic events in patients with eating disorders: a systematic review.

The purpose of the systematic review was to synthesize literature on eating disorders (ED) and non-interpersonal traumatic events (NTE) and consolidate the reported prevalence of NTE in patients with an ED. The literature search was performed in Embase, PsycInfo, and PubMed. The keywords in the search were "eating disorder," "trauma" and "non-interpersonal," using index-terms and free-search keywords related to NTE and ED. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Relevant studies were screened using Rayyan. Of the 16 studies included in the quantitative synthesis, five overall types of NTE were identified: accidents, illness, injury, natural disaster and war. Findings provided tentative evidence for illness and injury being more prevalent in patients suffering from an ED compared to controls. The remaining subtypes of NTE did not show a higher prevalence in patients with an ED when compared to controls. Findings also suggest that those with binge/purge subtype of anorexia nervosa (AN) had a higher prevalence of non-interpersonal traumatic events compared to the restrictive subtype of AN. This systematic review provided a clear synthesis of previous findings related to NTE among patients with an ED. Noteworthy, is that many studies do not take into account if the trauma happened prior or after to ED onset, which may affect the association. Furthermore, the body of research on NTE in patients with ED is exceedingly limited, and more research is needed.

Fatty Acids and Their Lipogenic Enzymes in Anorexia Nervosa Clinical Subtypes.

Disordered eating behavior differs between the restricting subtype (AN-R) and the binging and purging subtype (AN-BP) of anorexia nervosa (AN). Yet, little is known about how these differences impact fatty acid (FA) dysregulation in AN. To address this question, we analyzed 26 FAs and 7 FA lipogenic enzymes (4 desaturases and 3 elongases) in 96 women: 25 AN-R, 25 AN-BP, and 46 healthy control women. Our goal was to assess subtype-specific patterns. Lauric acid was significantly higher in AN-BP than in AN-R at the fasting timepoint (p = 0.038) and displayed significantly different postprandial changes 2 h after eating. AN-R displayed significantly higher levels of n-3 alpha-linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid, and n-6 linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid compared to controls. AN-BP showed elevated EPA and saturated lauric acid compared to controls. Higher EPA was associated with elevated anxiety in AN-R (p = 0.035) but was linked to lower anxiety in AN-BP (p = 0.043). These findings suggest distinct disordered eating behaviors in AN subtypes contribute to lipid dysregulation and eating disorder comorbidities. A personalized dietary intervention may improve lipid dysregulation and enhance treatment effectiveness for AN.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine alterations in recent onset anorexia nervosa adolescent female patients before and after 6 months of integrated therapy: A case-control study.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex disorder affecting mainly, but not only, teenagers. Researchers agree that AN is deeply associated with a pro-inflammatory state following an impaired immune system, resulting from altered levels of cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α, also impacted by the frequent depressive states. Thus, this case-control study aimed to evaluate the relationship between patients suffering from AN undergoing specialized eating disorder treatment for AN and pro-inflammatory cytokines. To reach our purpose, we assessed eating-related psychopathology and depressive symptoms and measured serum concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α before and after 6 months of integrated therapy (which included psychopharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and nutritional treatment), to define whether selected pro-inflammatory cytokines could be considered a pathophysiological marker of the disorder. A sample of 16 young female patients with early diagnosis of AN, and without any previous treatment, and 22 healthy controls matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status were enrolled. After 6 months of integrated therapy, a significant decrease of all selected pro-inflammatory cytokines was detected. In addition, an improvement in the anxiety-depressant aspects was also noted. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines are indeed related to the pathophysiology of AN. However, further investigations, involving larger samples of patients with distinct subtypes of AN, are essential to confirm the current findings.

Perfectionism, self-esteem, and affective symptoms in anorexia nervosa subtypes: A network analysis of French inpatients.

Previous studies have highlighted the relevance of perfectionism, self-esteem, and anxio-depressive symptoms in anorexia nervosa (AN). However, the relationships between these factors and cardinal eating disorders (ED) symptoms remain unclear, particularly in AN subtypes. This study aimed to examine their interconnections using network analysis. The sample included n = 338 inpatients with AN who completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Using network analysis, we estimated three networks: full sample, AN-restrictive (AN-R) and AN-binge/purging (AN-BP) subtypes. We estimated central and bridge symptoms using expected influence and conducted an exploratory network comparison test to compare AN subtypes. Overvaluation of Weight and Shape, Concern over Mistakes, and Personal Standards were consistently central in all networks. The most central bridge symptoms across all networks were Concern over Mistakes and Self-Esteem. Concern over Mistakes bridged perfectionism and ED symptoms, while Self-Esteem was highly connected to all symptom clusters. Anxiety was significantly more central in the AN-R network compared to the AN-BP network. The present study contributes to a growing body of network studies suggesting that nodes related to perfectionism are just as central as cardinal ED symptoms, indicating the relevance of perfectionism in ED pathology. The high bridge centrality of self-esteem suggests that it may be an important link between perfectionism, mood, and ED symptoms. Future research should investigate the efficacy of targeting multiple psychological factors in the treatment of AN, as well as their potential transdiagnostic relevance.

Comprehensive elucidation of resting-state functional connectivity in anorexia nervosa by a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Previous research on the changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been limited by an insufficient sample size, which reduced the reliability of the results and made it difficult to set the whole brain as regions of interest (ROIs). We analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 114 female AN patients and 135 healthy controls (HC) and obtained self-reported psychological scales, including eating disorder examination questionnaire 6.0. One hundred sixty-four cortical, subcortical, cerebellar, and network parcellation regions were considered as ROIs. We calculated the ROI-to-ROI rsFCs and performed group comparisons. Compared to HC, AN patients showed 12 stronger rsFCs mainly in regions containing dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and 33 weaker rsFCs primarily in regions containing cerebellum, within temporal lobe, between posterior fusiform cortex and lateral part of visual network, and between anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and thalamus (p < 0.01, false discovery rate [FDR] correction). Comparisons between AN subtypes showed that there were stronger rsFCs between right lingual gyrus and right supracalcarine cortex and between left temporal occipital fusiform cortex and medial part of visual network in the restricting type compared to the binge/purging type (p < 0.01, FDR correction). Stronger rsFCs in regions containing mainly DLPFC, and weaker rsFCs in regions containing primarily cerebellum, within temporal lobe, between posterior fusiform cortex and lateral part of visual network, and between ACC and thalamus, may represent categorical diagnostic markers discriminating AN patients from HC.

Is there a basis for a weight cut-off point? A large-scale investigation of atypical anorexia and anorexia nervosa subtypes among patients at a residential treatment centre.

There is debate surrounding how to differentiate between anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical AN (atypAN) as diagnostic entities, and whether a distinction based on BMI is warranted. Better understanding eating disorder (ED) and emotional symptoms across atypAN and AN subtypes [AN-restricting (AN-R), AN-binge/purge (AN-BP)], with and without controlling for BMI, can elucidate how atypAN differs from AN subtypes and whether there is a basis for a BMI cut-off. 1810 female patients at an ED treatment centre completed intake surveys. ANCOVAs assessed differences across AN-R (n=853), AN-BP (n=726), and atypAN (n=231) groups on ED, depressive, and anxiety symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness, with and without controlling for BMI. Relative to AN-R, atypAN and AN-BP groups endorsed significantly higher ED and depressive symptoms, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and significantly lower mindfulness (all p<0.001), but atypAN and AN-BP groups did not differ from one another. When controlling for BMI, all previously significant differences between atypAN and AN-R did not remain significant. Individuals with atypAN who have a higher BMI experience more pronounced ED and emotional symptoms, suggesting that relying solely on BMI as a marker of illness severity may be problematic.

Hypothalamic subregion alterations in anorexia nervosa and obesity: Association with appetite-regulating hormone levels.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity are weight-related disorders with imbalances in energy homeostasis that may be due to hormonal dysregulation. Given the importance of the hypothalamus in hormonal regulation, we aimed to identify morphometric alterations to hypothalamic subregions linked to these conditions and their connection to appetite-regulating hormones. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained from 78 patients with AN, 27 individuals with obesity and 100 normal-weight healthy controls. Leptin, ghrelin, and insulin blood levels were measured in a subsample of each group. An automated segmentation method was used to segment the hypothalamus and its subregions. Volumes of the hypothalamus and its subregions were compared between groups, and correlational analysis was employed to assess the relationship between morphometric measurements and appetite-regulating hormone levels. While accounting for total brain volume, patients with AN displayed a smaller volume in the inferior-tubular subregion (ITS). Conversely, obesity was associated with a larger volume in the anterior-superior, ITS, posterior subregions (PS), and entire hypothalamus. There were no significant volumetric differences between AN subtypes. Leptin correlated positively with PS volume, whereas ghrelin correlated negatively with the whole hypothalamus volume in the entire cohort. However, appetite-regulating hormone levels did not mediate the effects of body mass index on volumetric measures. Our results indicate the importance of regional structural hypothalamic alterations in AN and obesity, extending beyond global changes to brain volume. Furthermore, these alterations may be linked to changes in hormonal appetite regulation. However, given the small sample size in our correlation analysis, further analyses in a larger sample size are warranted. Using an automated segmentation method to investigate morphometric alterations of hypothalamic subregions in AN and obesity, this study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between hypothalamic alterations, hormonal appetite regulation, and body weight, highlighting the need for further research to uncover underlying mechanisms.

The Role of Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in Anorexia Nervosa

Observational studies have associated anorexia nervosa with circadian rhythms and sleep traits. However, the direction of causality and the extent of confounding by psychosocial comorbidities in these associations are unknown. To investigate the association between anorexia nervosa and circadian and sleep traits through mendelian randomization and to test the associations between a polygenic risk score (PRS) for anorexia nervosa and sleep disorders in a clinical biobank. This genetic association study used bidirectional 2-sample mendelian randomization with summary-level genetic associations between anorexia nervosa (from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium) and chronotype and sleep traits (primarily from the UK Biobank). The inverse-variance weighted method, in addition to other sensitivity approaches, was used. From the clinical Mass General Brigham (MGB) Biobank (n = 47 082), a PRS for anorexia nervosa was calculated for each patient and associations were tested with prevalent sleep disorders derived from electronic health records. Patients were of European ancestry. All analyses were performed between February and August 2023. Genetic instruments for anorexia nervosa, chronotype, daytime napping, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and sleep duration. Chronotype, sleep traits, risk of anorexia nervosa, and sleep disorders derived from a clinical biobank. The anorexia nervosa genome-wide association study included 16 992 cases (87.7%-97.4% female) and 55 525 controls (49.6%-63.4% female). Genetic liability for anorexia nervosa was associated with a more morning chronotype (β = 0.039; 95% CI, 0.006-0.072), and conversely, genetic liability for morning chronotype was associated with increased risk of anorexia nervosa (β = 0.178; 95% CI, 0.042-0.315). Associations were robust in sensitivity and secondary analyses. Genetic liability for insomnia was associated with increased risk of anorexia nervosa (β = 0.369; 95% CI, 0.073-0.666); however, sensitivity analyses indicated bias due to horizontal pleiotropy. The MGB Biobank analysis included 47 082 participants with a mean (SD) age of 60.4 (17.0) years and 25 318 (53.8%) were female. A PRS for anorexia nervosa was associated with organic or persistent insomnia in the MGB Biobank (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03-1.17). No associations were evident for anorexia nervosa with other sleep traits. The results of this study suggest that in contrast to other metabo-psychiatric diseases, anorexia nervosa is a morningness eating disorder and further corroborate findings implicating insomnia in anorexia nervosa. Future studies in diverse populations and with subtypes of anorexia nervosa are warranted.

Plasma proteome profiling reveals metabolic and immunologic differences between Anorexia Nervosa subtypes

Aims/hypothesisAnorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder of an unknown etiology with a crude mortality rate of about 5 % per decade, making it one of the deadliest of all psychiatric illnesses. AN is broadly classified into two main subtypes, restricting and binge/purging disorder. Despite extensive research efforts during several decades, the underlying pathophysiology of AN remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to identify novel protein biomarkers for AN by performing a proteomics analysis of fasting plasma samples from 78 females with AN (57 restrictive and 21 binge/purge type) and 70 healthy controls. MethodsUsing state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology in conjunction with an advanced bioinformatics pipeline, we quantify >500 plasma proteins. ResultsDifferential expression analysis and correlation of proteomics data with clinical variables led to identification of a panel of novel protein biomarkers with potential pathophysiological significance for AN. Our findings demonstrate evidence of a humoral immune system response, altered lipid metabolism and potential alteration of plasma cells in AN patients. Additionally, we stratified AN patients based on the quantified proteins and suggest a potential autoimmune nature in the restrictive subtype of AN. Conclusions/interpretationIn summary, on top of biomarkers of AN subtypes, this study provides a comprehensive map of plasma proteins that constitute a resource for further studies of the pathophysiology of AN.

An updated report on trauma in Anorexia Nervosa: Confirmation and novel data

ObjectiveLiterature reported a great occurrence of Traumatic Events (TEs) and post-traumatic symptoms in anorexia nervosa (AN). The present study aims to: a) describe the prevalence and the characteristics of TEs in AN, also comparing TEs related to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to those without this link; b) compare patients with and without TEs and with and without PTSD in terms of clinical picture; c) compare patients who suffered the TE before AN onset to those with TE after AN onset. MethodsThe sample consisted of 126 patients with AN who were interviewed with the Structured and Clinical Interview for DSM 5 (SCID-5), and completed self-reported questionnaires to investigate the general and eating-related psychopathology. ResultsThe results showed that the majority of the patients with AN reported a TE, and TEs related to PTSD were more relational and sexual-related compared to TEs not leading to PTSD. Moreover, after Bonferroni correction was applied to the results, no significant differences emerged between patients with and without TEs, and between individuals with TEs before and after AN onset; differently, patients with PTSD presented a more severe global clinical picture than those without PTSD, partially independent of diagnostic AN subtype. ConclusionThe study highlights that, despite TEs are risk factors for AN, the diagnosis of PTSD makes the difference in terms of clinical presentation and severity, impacting not only eating-related symptoms but also general psychopathology. A careful screening for PTSD in patients with AN is suggestable, especially when relational trauma and sexual violence are reported.

Hypercapnia in hospitalized children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa as a predictive marker for readmission: a prospective study

PurposeTo determine whether hypercapnia is associated with risk of hospital readmission related to anorexia nervosa (AN) in children and adolescents.MethodsWe performed a prospective study of patients ≤ 18 years old admitted due to AN decompensation from November 2018 to October 2019. Both subtypes of AN, restricting subtype (AN-R) and binge-eating/purging subtype (AN-BP), were included. Study participants were evaluated upon admission, at discharge and six months after discharge. T-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests was used to compare means values. Pearson or Spearman correlations were used to measure the association between two variables. Logistic regression models were developed to evaluate the relationship between scoring methods and readmission.ResultsOf the 154 persons admitted during the study period, 131 met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 15.1 years. At admission, 71% of participants were malnourished and 33 (25%) had been previously admitted.We observed a marked decrease in venous pH and stable pCO2 elevation during follow-up period. Hypercapnia at discharge was associated with a twofold increased likelihood of readmission and the odds of readmission increased as discharge pCO2 rose. These findings did not depend on AN subtype or participant sex. Electrolytes persisted within the normal range.ConclusionHypercapnia and respiratory acidosis are common alterations in children and adolescents hospitalized due to AN decompensation. Hypercapnia persists for at least 6 months after discharge despite clinical improvement and is associated with higher odds of readmission. This is the first study to identify an abnormal laboratory finding as a potential predictor of readmission in AN.Level of evidenceIV: Multiple time series without intervention.

An overview and investigation of relapse predictors in anorexia nervosa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

An extensive number of predictors has been examined across the literature to improve knowledge of relapse in anorexia nervosa (AN). These studies provide various recovery and relapse definitions, follow-up durations and relapse rates. The current study summarizes these values and predictors of relapse in AN in a review and meta-analysis. The study was executed according to PRISMA guidelines. Different databases were searched and studies in which participants did not receive an official clinical diagnosis were excluded. A quality analysis was performed using the National Institute of Health's Study Quality Assessment Tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to summarize data. Definitions of relapse and recovery were diverse. During an average follow-up period of 31 months an average relapse rate of 37% was found. Predictive variables from 28 studies were grouped in six categories: age and sex, symptoms and behaviors, AN subtype and duration, weight or weight change, comorbidity, and personality. The studies were characterized by non-significant and contradictory results. Meta-analyses were performed for the predictors age, AN duration, pre-treatment BMI, post-treatment BMI and depression. These yielded significant effects for post-treatment BMI and depression: higher pre-treatment depression (SMD = .40 CI [.21-.59] and lower post-treatment BMI (SMD = -.35 CI [-.63 to -.07]) increased relapse chances in AN. Our results emphasized a lack of sufficiently powered studies, consistent results, and robust findings. Solely post-treatment BMI and pre-treatment depression predicted relapse. Future research should use uniform definitions, larger samples and better designs, to improve our understanding of relapse in AN. Knowledge about predictors is important to understand high relapse rates. Our study performed a review and meta-analysis of relapse predictors in AN. Related to the heterogeneity in studies examining predictors, an overview of relapse and recovery definitions, follow-up durations and relapse rates for AN was provided. Significant effects were found for post-treatment BMI and pre-treatment depression. More studies with uniform definitions are needed to improve clinical implications.

Elevated lipid class concentrations in females with anorexia nervosa before and after intensive weight restoration treatment-A lipidomics study.

To study the plasma lipidome of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) before and after weight restoration treatment and report associations with AN subtypes and oral contraceptive pill (OCP) usage. Quantitative shotgun lipidomics analysis was used to study plasma lipids of 50 female patients with AN before and after weight restoration treatment and 50 healthy female controls (HC). The AN group was assessed with blood samples and questionnaires before and after weight restoration. In total we quantified 260 lipid species representing 26 lipid classes of which 13 lipid class concentrations were elevated in patients with AN at admission compared with HC. Lipid classes remained elevated after weight restoration treatment of 84 days (median; interquartile range 28), and only the concentration of the ceramide lipid class increased between pre- and post-treatment (p = .03), whereas lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC, p = .02), ether-linked Phosphatidylcholine (LPCO, p = .02), and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE, p = .009) decreased. In AN, 13 out of 26 lipid class concentrations were elevated at admission and remained elevated post-treatment. Ceramides increased further between pre- and post-weight restoration treatment, which could be related to the rapid weight gain during re-nutrition. Further research is needed to elucidate the effects of weight restoration treatment on short- and long-term lipid profiles in individuals with AN. Lipidomics research can increase the understanding of AN, a complex and potentially life-threatening eating disorder. By analyzing lipids, or fats, in the body, we can identify biological markers that may inform diagnosis and develop more effective treatments. This research can also shed light on the underlying mechanisms of the disorder, leading to a better understanding of the processes involved in eating behavior.

Exploration of orthorexia nervosa and diagnostic overlap with eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized as obsessional healthy eating that results in malnutrition and/or psychosocial impairment. Yet, ON shares theoretical overlap with eating disorders (EDs), especially anorexia nervosa (AN), as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study aimed to further understand ON and its overlap with related disorders by assessing the ability of ON for detecting the presence/absence of threshold ED, AN, and OCD symptoms. An observational survey was completed by 197 participants recruited through eating disorder, dieting, and mental health support groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses determined the predictive ability of ON symptoms (assessed by Eating Habits Questionnaire [EHQ] orthorexia nervosa [OrNe] and healthy orthorexia [HeOr] subscales, and the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory [ONI]) for detecting disordered eating symptoms (determined by Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire [EDE-Q] global cut-scores), probable AN (determined by EDE-Q cut-scores and body mass index [BMI] <18.5), and OCD symptoms and obsessional thinking (assessed by the Revised Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory [OCI-R]). Results showed both the ONI and EHQ OrNe measures are able to adequately predict ED symptoms and AN; however, both were poor to moderate at detecting OCD symptoms and obsessional thinking. Healthy orthorexia was poor to moderate at detecting outcomes. These results suggest that ON, as it is currently operationalized, may be more closely related to EDs than OCD, and that ON may represent a subtype of AN. Results also support healthy orthorexia as a distinct construct to ON. While results are limited by the lack of definitive ON diagnostic criteria, findings suggest that treatments developed for EDs might be most suited to ON. ON has been proposed as a psychiatric disorder, and it shares theoretical overlap with several existing disorders. This study adopts a novel approach to assessing and exploring the overlap of ON with EDs, AN and OCD. Results suggest that ON shares more overlap with EDs and might best be understood as a subtype of EDs or AN.

Een onderzoek naar obsessieve-compulsieve symptomen bij kinderen en adolescenten met anorexia nervosa

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.

Differences and similarities in personality functioning across different types of eating disorders.

The classification of anorexia nervosa (AN) into subtypes is relevant due to their different symptomatology. However, subtypes (restricting type: AN-R; purging type: AN-P) differ also in terms of their personality functioning. Knowledge about these differences would allow for better treatment stratification. A pilot study indicated differences in structural abilities that can be assessed by the operationalized psychodynamic diagnosis (OPD) system. The aim of this study was therefore to systematically explore differences in personality functioning and personality between the two AN subtypes and bulimia nervosa (BN) using three personality (functioning) constructs. A total of N = 110 inpatients with AN-R (n = 28), AN-P (n = 40), or BN (n = 42) were recruited in three clinics for psychosomatic medicine. Assignment to the three groups was performed using a comprehensive questionnaire validated for diagnostic purposes (Munich-ED-Quest). Personality functioning was examined using OPD Structure Questionnaire (OPD-SQ), personality by using the Personality Inventory for DSM-5-Brief Form and Big Five Inventory-10. (M)ANOVAs were used to examine differences across eating disorder groups. In addition, correlation and regression analyses were conducted. We observed differences on several sub- and main scales of the OPD-SQ. Whereas patients with BN showed the lowest levels, AN-R patients displayed the highest levels of personality functioning. On some sub- and main scales, such as "affect tolerance," the subtypes of AN differed from BN, whereas on the scale "affect differentiation," AN-R, differed from the other two groups. The total eating disorder pathology score of the Munich-ED-Quest best predicted overall personality structure [stand. β = 0.650; t(104) = 6.666; p < 0.001] and self-regulation [stand. β = 0.449; t(104) = 3.628; p < 0.001]. Our findings confirm most of the results of the pilot study. These findings can facilitate the development of stratified treatment approaches for eating disorders.