Chronic Illness and Disordered Eating: A Discussion of the Literature.

Chronic Illness and Disordered Eating: A Discussion of the Literature.

Adv Nutr. 2013; 4(3): 277-286
Quick VM, Byrd-Bredbenner C, Neumark-Sztainer D

This paper describes the prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors, the reasons why these practices are endorsed, and the potential consequences in youths and young adults with selected diet-related chronic health conditions (DRCHCs) and provides recommendations for eating disorder prevention interventions and research efforts. Although it remains unclear whether the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in those with DRCHCs compared with the general population, overall findings suggest that young people with DRCHCs may be at risk of endorsing disordered eating behaviors that may lead to diagnosis of an eating disorder and other health problems over the course of their treatment. Thus, health care providers should be aware that young people with DRCHCs may be at risk of eating disorders and carefully monitor psychological changes and the use of unhealthy weight control methods. It is also important to develop and evaluate theory-based interventions and disease-specific eating disorder risk screening tools that are effective in halting the progression of eating disorders and negative health outcomes in young people with chronic health conditions. HubMed – eating disorders

Treating eating disorders over the internet: A systematic review and future research directions.

Int J Eat Disord. 2013 May 15;
Aardoom JJ, Dingemans AE, Spinhoven P, Van Furth EF

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature regarding internet-based treatment of eating disorders (ED). METHOD: Relevant studies were identified by searching electronic databases (including Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, and Web of Science). Eligible studies evaluated an internet-based treatment for ED, or an ED treatment that included at least one internet-based component. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included. Methodological quality varied. Internet-based treatments were superior to waiting lists in reducing ED psychopathology, frequency of binge eating and purging, and in improving (ED-related) quality of life. Internet-based treatment was more effective for individuals with less comorbid psychopathology, binge eating as opposed to restrictive problems, and individuals with binge eating disorder as opposed to bulimia nervosa. Higher levels of compliance were related to more improvements in ED symptoms. Study dropout ranged from 5.3 to 76.8%. Inclusion of face-to-face assessments and therapist support seemed to enhance study compliance. Overall, the internet can be considered an acceptable vehicle for delivering ED treatment. DISCUSSION: Future research should determine the utility of internet-based treatment by comparing them to face-to-face treatment. Research should furthermore focus on unraveling predictors and mediators of treatment outcome, compliance, and dropout, respectively. Studies with good methodological quality are needed with reports according to CONSORT guidelines. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013). HubMed – eating disorders

Do Restrictive and Bingeing/Purging Subtypes of Anorexia Nervosa Differ on Central Coherence and Set Shifting?

Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2013 May 15;
Van Autreve S, De Baene W, Baeken C, van Heeringen C, Vervaet M

OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with weak central coherence (CC) and weak set shifting (SS). The main aim of this study was to examine possible differences between restrictive AN (AN-R) and bingeing/purging AN (AN-BP) on these features. METHODS: A total of 31 patients with AN-R, 20 patients with AN-BP and 26 healthy controls (HC) completed five neuropsychological tests (Block Design, Object Assembly, an adapted task-switching paradigm, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Trail Making Test). RESULTS: Using Block Design and Object Assembly, indicative for CC, AN-R patients performed significantly worse than AN-BP patients and HC, without any difference between AN-BP and HC. On SS measures, no group differences were observed. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that cognitive profiles of AN-R and AN-BP patients differ significantly on CC and not on SS. Our current findings support the idea that the two subtypes of AN have a distinctive underlying nature and might need a different approach in cognitive remediation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. HubMed – eating disorders