Polycystic ovaries and eating disorders: Are they related?

A cross-sectional observational study was used to investigate the reported association between polycystic ovarian syndrome and bulimia nervosa in a group of young, post-menarcheal women in the normal population. Volunteers aged 18-25 years were recruited from two universities and two general practice surgeries in Oxford. A total of 230 women completed an interviewer-based eating disorder examination, which was used to diagnose bulimia nervosa and its variants, and to assess eating behaviour. Transabdominal ultrasound was used to diagnose the presence or absence of polycystic ovaries. Symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome were assessed using menstrual history, anthropometric measurements, clinical observation of acne and hirsutism, and biochemical analysis of a fasting blood sample. A total of 30% of all participants described episodes of overeating and 4% had used extreme methods of weight control. Two women were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, and five women with binge-eating disorder; however, these diagnoses were not associated with polycystic ovaries. Scores for dieting and overall eating disorder symptoms in the polycystic ovary groups were not significantly higher than those for women with normal ovaries, and therefore the suggestion that polycystic ovaries predispose towards the development of eating disorders is not supported by this study.     

Male eating disorder patients with and without non-suicidal self-injury: a comparison of psychopathological and personality features

In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and comorbidity of non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) in male eating disorder (ED) patients. In total, 130 male ED patients completed a list of 10 impulse‐control problems (including NSSI), the Eating Disorder Inventory‐2, the Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised and the Temperament and Character Inventory. Overall, 21% of the male ED patients (n = 27) engaged in at least one type of NSSI, and we did not find significant differences between the ED subtypes. Self‐injurious male ED patients showed significantly more severe ED symptoms and more affective, interpersonal and impulse‐control problems than ED patients without NSSI. As previously described in female ED, our data confirm the affect regulation and impulse regulation functions of NSSI in male ED patients. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.     

Collaborative professional education for carers of those with eating disorders

This paper describes the effectiveness of a 6‐hour education programme to provide skills, knowledge and support to carers about how to best support patients with eating disorders. Based on a philosophy of mutual and ongoing support and learning, this programme brought together community groups of professionals, carers and advocates to present and participate in the programme. Pretest and post‐test measures of the programme's effectiveness were administered to 81 participants (N = 81) across multiple‐programme presentations in different locations in the USA. A paired form of analysis showed significant effect sizes on carers' knowledge, skill and understanding of eating disorders. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.