When compared to comparator treatment, specialist interventions for anorexia nervosa are more effective in reducing weight-based symptoms, but not psychological symptoms

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsty E Fishburn
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Specialist

scholarly journals Biased Ghrelin Receptor Signaling and the Dopaminergic System as Potential Targets for Metabolic and Psychological Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariam S. Khelifa ◽  
Louise J. Skov ◽  
Birgitte Holst
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Dopaminergic System ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Ghrelin Receptor ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
Gut Hormone ◽  
Biased Signaling ◽  
The Common ◽  
Intracellular Pathways

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a complex disease that impairs the metabolic, mental and physiological health of affected individuals in a severe and sometimes lethal way. Many of the common symptoms in AN patients, such as reduced food intake, anxiety, impaired gut motility or overexercising are connected to both the orexigenic gut hormone ghrelin and the dopaminergic system. Targeting the ghrelin receptor (GhrR) to treat AN seems a promising possibility in current research. However, GhrR signaling is highly complex. First, the GhrR can activate four known intracellular pathways Gαq, Gαi/o, Gα12/13 and the recruitment of β-arrestin. Biased signaling provides the possibility to activate or inhibit only one or a subset of the intracellular pathways of a pleiotropic receptor. This allows specific targeting of physiological functions without adverse effects. Currently little is known on how biased signaling could specifically modulate GhrR effects. Second, GhrR signaling has been shown to be interconnected with the dopaminergic system, particularly in the context of AN symptoms. This review highlights that a biased agonist for the GhrR may be a promising target for the treatment of AN, however extensive and systematic translational studies are still needed and the connection to the dopaminergic system has to be taken into account.

The Eating Attitudes Test: psychometric features and clinical correlates

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Garner ◽  
Marion P. Olmsted ◽  
Yvonne Bohr ◽  
Paul E. Garfinkel
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Eating Attitudes ◽  
Eating Attitudes Test ◽  
Clinical Correlates ◽  
Original Scale ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Eat 26 ◽  
Image Variables

SynopsisPsychometric and clinical correlates of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) are described for a large sample of female anorexia nervosa (N = 160) and female comparison (N = 140) subjects. An abbreviated 26-item version of the EAT (EAT-26) is proposed, based on a factor analysis of the original scale (EAT-40). The EAT-26 is highly correlated with the EAT-40 (r = 0·98) and three factors form subscales which are meaningfully related to bulimia, weight, body-image variables and psychological symptoms. Whereas there are no differces between bulimic and restricter anorexia nervosa patients on the total EAT-26 and EAT-40 scores, these groups do indicate significant differences on EAT-26 fractors. Norms for the anorexia nervosa and female comparison subjects are presented for the EAT-26, EAT-40 and the EAT-26 factors. It is concluded that the EAT-26 is a reliable, valid and economical instrument which may be useful as an objective measure of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa.

Are Low Body Weight and Psychological Symptoms Associated with Cognitive Function in Children and Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S285-S285
Author(s):  
G. Kjærsdam Telléus ◽  
J.R. Jepsen ◽  
M. Fjelkegaard ◽  
E. Christiansen ◽  
F. Birgitte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Multi Centre Study ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Study Results

IntroductionDespite an increasing focus on cognitive functions in eating disorders, only limited and contradictory knowledge regarding the relationship between cognitive functions and anorexia nervosa symptomatology currently exist.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate potential associations between cognitive functions and anorexia nervosa symptomatology in children and adolescents.MethodEating disorder symptoms and cognitive functions were examined in this cross-sectional, multi-centre study. Diagnostic scores i.e. BMI, psychological symptoms, and global EDE-16 were stratified on cognitive function. Children and adolescents suffering from severe recent-onset anorexia nervosa (n = 94) and healthy controls (n = 94), between the age 10.6 and 17.9 years (mean age 14.9 years, SD 1.8), participated in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, respectively above and below the median of cognitive functions.ResultsThe study findings revealed that Global EDE score significantly increased with age (P = 0.002, CI 0.08–0.36). Besides this, no significant associations between low body weight or psychological symptoms and cognitive functions were found. However, a large variability in cognitive functions was found on all measure in patients with anorexia nervosa than healthy controls.ConclusionWhile age seems to be significantly correlated to symptom burden the study results indicate that patients with anorexia nervosa is a much more heterogeneous group with regard to cognition than healthy controls. However, cognitive functions and anorexia nervosa symptomatology does not appear to be associated.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Anorexia nervosa and nutritional assessment: contribution of body composition measurements

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lama Mattar ◽  
Nathalie Godart ◽  
Jean Claude Melchior ◽  
Claude Pichard
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Personalised Treatment ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
The Relationship

The psychiatric condition of patients suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN) is affected by their nutritional status. An optimal assessment of the nutritional status of patients is fundamental in understanding the relationship between malnutrition and the psychological symptoms. The present review evaluates some of the available methods for measuring body composition in patients with AN. We searched literature in Medline using several key terms relevant to the present review in order to identify papers. Only articles in English or French were reviewed. A brief description is provided for each body composition technique, with its applicability in AN as well as its limitation. All methods of measuring body composition are not yet validated and/or feasible in patients with AN. The present review article proposes a practical approach for selecting the most appropriate methods depending on the setting, (i.e. clinical v. research) and the goal of the assessment (initial v. follow-up) in order to have a more personalised treatment for patients suffering from AN.

Olanzapine versus placebo for out-patients with anorexia nervosa

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 2177-2182 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Attia ◽  
A. S. Kaplan ◽  
B. T. Walsh ◽  
M. Gershkovich ◽  
Z. Yilmaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
End Of Treatment ◽  
To Receive

BackgroundAnorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is little empirical support for specific treatments and new approaches are sorely needed. This two-site study aimed to determine whether olanzapine is superior to placebo in increasing body mass index (BMI) and improving psychological symptoms in out-patients with AN.MethodA total of 23 individuals with AN were randomly assigned in double-blind fashion to receive olanzapine or placebo for 8 weeks together with medication management sessions that emphasized compliance. Weight, other physical assessments and measures of psychopathology were collected.ResultsEnd-of-treatment BMI, with initial BMI as a covariate, was significantly greater in the group receiving olanzapine [F(1, 20)=6.64, p=0.018]. Psychological symptoms improved in both groups, but there were no statistically significant group differences. Of the 23 participants, 17 (74%) completed the 8-week trial. Participants tolerated the medication well with sedation being the only frequent side effect and no adverse metabolic effects were noted.ConclusionsThis small study suggests that olanzapine is generally well tolerated by, and may provide more benefit than placebo for out-patients with AN. Further study is indicated to determine whether olanzapine may affect psychological symptoms in addition to BMI.

Anorexia Nervosa and Brain Tumor in a 14-Year-Old Girl

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 669-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mae S. Sokol ◽  
Chrystie K. Fujimoto ◽  
Tammy K. Jackson ◽  
Phillip J. Silberberg
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Cognitive Disturbances ◽  
Intracranial Neoplasm ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Made In

ABSTRACTA 14-year-old girl with anorexia nervosa (AN) was found to have an intracranial neoplasm. Atypical psychological symptoms prompted further evaluation, including electroencephalogram and neuroimaging, which revealed a sellar and suprasellar mass.This patient had an eating disorder and a brain tumor, which appear to be two unrelated conditions. However, it remains unclear how each affected the other. The diagnosis of AN, like all other psychiatric disorders, requires that possible medical etiologies and coexisting medical problems be excluded. AN and other eating disorders are particularly difficult to diagnose in children and adolescents because they often do not present in the manner typical of adults. Perceptual and cognitive disturbances associated with AN are difficult to evaluate because children and adolescents normally change over time as they progress through different stages of development. Therefore, It is particularly important to evaluate for the presence of medical conditions when a diagnosis of an eating disorder is made in a child or adolescent.

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