Pattern of birth in restrictive and bulimic eating disorders

Objective: To determine whether different eating disorders are associated with being born at different points in the year. Based on previous research, it was hypothesised that being born during warm months (June–August) is likely to be associated with restrictive anorexia, rather than bulimic disorders (bulimia nervosa, binge-purge anorexia). Method: Case notes from 105 eating-disordered women were used to yield dates of birth and diagnosis. Associations were calculated between diagnostic group and birth period (month, quarter of year, high-risk quarter). Results: Restrictive anorexics were significantly more likely than the bulimics (42.6% vs. 24.1%) to be born during the warmest quarter (June–August) than during the remainder of the year. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that being born during warmer periods may form a small risk factor for the development of a restrictive eating disorder. Further research is suggested to test and extend the hypothesis.     

Plasma homocysteine levels in female patients with eating disorders

OBJECTIVE: To examine plasma homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate levels in females with restricting and bingeing/purging eating disorders (EDs). METHOD: Adolescent and adult female patients were compared to appropriate control groups with regard to plasma homocysteine levels. RESULTS: The plasma homocysteine level of the adult ED patients was higher than that of controls for all age groups examined. In adolescents, no significant difference was found comparing ED patients younger than 16 years of age to control data, whereas in the 16-20 year age group, the plasma homocysteine level was significantly higher among the ED group, regardless of the type of ED. Vitamin B(12) and folate levels were within normal limits in all ED groups. CONCLUSION: Elevated plasma homocysteine levels were found in adult and older adolescent female ED patients (but not in younger adolescents) compared to controls. This finding is not related to deficiencies in vitamin B(12) or folate.     

Development of the eating disorder recovery self-efficacy questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current investigation was to develop and validate the Eating Disorder Recovery Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (EDRSQ), a self-report measure of self-efficacy to recover from an eating disorder. METHOD: Participants were 116 female patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or a subthreshold eating disorder treated at an eating disorder clinic. Patients completed the EDRSQ and measures of eating disorder symptoms and depression. RESULTS: The EDRSQ contains two internally consistent factors, Normative Eating Self-Efficacy and Body Image Self-Efficacy. Moderate to large correlations between EDRSQ subscales and measures of eating disorder pathology support the convergent validity of the EDRSQ. The EDRSQ demonstrates theoretically consistent relations with constructs that are related to but distinct from self-efficacy. Discriminant validity is reflected in small correlations between EDRSQ subscales and measures of general psychological correlates of disordered eating. CONCLUSION: The EDRSQ is a psychometrically sound measure to assess self-efficacy in patients with a range of eating disorder diagnoses.     

Current status of functional imaging in eating disorders

Eating Disorders are complex psychiatric problems that involve biologic and psychological factors. Brain imaging studies provide insights about how functionally connected brain networks may contribute to disturbed eating behavior, resulting in food refusal and altered body weight, but also body preoccupations and heightened anxiety. In this article, we review the current state of brain imaging in eating disorders, and how such techniques may help identify pathways that could be important in the treatment of those often detrimental disorders. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012; 45:723–736)     

Shared transmission of eating disorders and anxiety disorders

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders have high comorbidity with mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Using twins from the population-based Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS), we examined comorbidity and shared transmission between eating pathology and these disorders. METHOD: Female twins (N = 672), ages 16-18 years, completed structured clinical interviews assessing anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (as described in the 4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994]), as well as mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders (as described in the 3rd Rev. ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-III-R]). Shared transmission was examined using a discordant monozygotic (MZ) twin design. RESULTS: Significant comorbidity was found between eating disorders and major depression, anxiety disorders, and nicotine dependence. Within MZ twin pairs discordant for eating disorders (n = 14), non-eating-disordered cotwins demonstrated increased risk for anxiety disorders compared with controls. Similarly, within MZ twin pairs discordant for anxiety disorders (n = 52), non-anxiety-disordered cotwins demonstrated increased risk for eating disorders compared with controls. DISCUSSION: Findings support shared transmission between eating disorders and anxiety disorders. However, the nature of this shared diathesis remains unknown.     

Comorbidity between eating disorders and anxiety disorders: a review

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a critical literature review on studies assessing the prevalence of anxiety disorders (AD) in subjects with eating disorders (ED) (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa). In the first part, we discuss methodological issues relevant to comorbidity studies between ED and AD. In the second part, taking into account these methodological considerations raised, we summarize the findings of these studies. METHOD: We performed a manual and computerized search (Medline) for all published studies on comorbidity between ED and AD, limiting our search from 1985-2001 to get sufficiently homogeneous diagnostic criteria for both categories of disorders. RESULTS: Too few studies include control groups and few studies have compared diagnostic subgroups of ED subjects, with scarce or conflicting results. DISCUSSION: We discuss the results taking into account the methodological problems observed. We give guidelines for reviewing the results of published studies and planing future research.