Analysis of symptom clusters amongst adults with anorexia nervosa: Key severity indicators

Li, Zhuo; Leppänen, Jenni; Webb, Jessica; Croft, Peter; Byford, Sarah; Tchanturia, Kate

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115272

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Along with medical complications, the presence of binging and/or purging has been associated with a more complex and severe ED course, including greater treatment resistance and risk of life-threatening malnutrition [ 18 , 19 ]. Moreover, patients who engage in these behaviors tend to report more ED symptoms, along with higher levels of anxiety, low affect, and self-harm [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Psychiatric comorbidities among patients who binge and/or purge are frequent, particularly with substance abuse [ 23 ] and cluster B personality disorders (PDs) [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Factors Associated with Binge-Eating Episodes or Purging Behaviors in Patients Affected by Eating Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Caldiroli,

Affaticati,

Coloccini

et al. 2024

JPM

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The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential associations between clinical/socio-demographic variables and the presence of purging/binge-eating episodes in eating disorders (EDs). Clinical/socio-demographic variables and psychometric scores were collected. Groups of patients were identified according to the presence or absence of purging or objective binge-eating episodes (OBEs) and compared through t-test and chi-square tests. Binary logistic regression analyses were run. A sample of 51 ED outpatients was recruited. Patients with purging behaviors had a longer duration of untreated illness (DUI) (t = 1.672; p = 0.019) and smoked a higher number of cigarettes/day (t = 1.061; p = 0.030) compared to their counterparts. A lower BMI was associated with purging (OR = 0.881; p = 0.035), and an older age at onset showed a trend towards statistical significance (OR = 1.153; p = 0.061). Patients with OBEs, compared to their counterparts, were older (t = 0.095; p < 0.001), more frequently presented a diagnosis of bulimia or binge-eating disorder (χ2 = 26.693; p < 0.001), a longer duration of illness (t = 2.162; p = 0.019), a higher number of hospitalizations (t = 1.301; p = 0.012), and more often received a prescription for pharmacological treatment (χ2 = 7.864; OR = 6.000; p = 0.005). A longer duration of the last pharmacological treatment was associated with OBE (OR = 1.569; p = 0.046). In contrast to purging, OBE was associated with a more complicated and severe presentation of ED. A lower BMI and a later age at onset, as well as long-lasting previous pharmacological treatments, may predict the presence of purging/binging. Further research is needed to thoroughly characterize ED features and corroborate our preliminary findings.

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