Non-interpersonal traumatic events in patients with eating disorders: a systematic review.

Objectives: The purpose of the systematic review was to synthesize literature on eating disorders (ED) and non-interpersonal traumatic events (NTE) and consolidate the reported prevalence of NTE in patients with an ED. Methods: The literature search was performed in Embase, PsycInfo, and PubMed. The keywords in the search were "eating disorder," "trauma" and "non-interpersonal," using index-terms and free-search keywords related to NTE and ED. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Relevant studies were screened using Rayyan. Results: Of the 16 studies included in the quantitative synthesis, five overall types of NTE were identified: accidents, illness, injury, natural disaster and war. Findings provided tentative evidence for illness and injury being more prevalent in patients suffering from an ED compared to controls. The remaining subtypes of NTE did not show a higher prevalence in patients with an ED when compared to controls. Findings also suggest that those with binge/purge subtype of anorexia nervosa (AN) had a higher prevalence of non-interpersonal traumatic events compared to the restrictive subtype of AN. Discussion: This systematic review provided a clear synthesis of previous findings related to NTE among patients with an ED. Noteworthy, is that many studies do not take into account if the trauma happened prior or after to ED onset, which may affect the association. Furthermore, the body of research on NTE in patients with ED is exceedingly limited, and more research is needed.

Sleep quality in eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eating disorders (ED) are psychological disorders characterized by dangerous eating behaviours, including protracted fasting and binge eating. Mental disorders comorbidities (e.g., anxiety and depression), as well as sleep difficulties, are common and might interfere with treatment response. This work investigated sleep quality, circadian preferences, and sleep disorders in ED patients compared to healthy controls (HC) and the impact of ED treatment on patients' sleep. A literature search on Pubmed, Web of Science, Medline, and PsychInfo included 27 studies. Random effect analyses were performed (sample eating disorders = 711; sample healthy controls = 653) and subgroup analyses were calculated based on the ED subgroups: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder. Whole sample analyses showed poorer physiological and subjective sleep quality in patients. Subgroup analyses showed that poorer physiological sleep was present only in anorexia nervosa. Two studies reporting circadian preferences and sleep disorders showed higher evening preference in patients and no differences in apnea prevalence between patients and healthy controls, respectively. Some studies suggested that specialized eating disorder treatments (e.g., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for ED) can improve sleep quality in patients. Although these findings highlight poorer sleep in patients with ED compared to healthy controls, the mechanisms underlying sleep alterations in eating disorders remain to be identified.

Phase-Transitions in Disgust During Self-Initiated Eating Among Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa and Related Low-Weight Eating Disorders and Matched Controls.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the emotional context of feeding behavior may help identify causal mechanisms of food avoidance among individuals with anorexia nervosa. Although predominant food avoidance models assume fear of fat drives feeding behavior, disgust may be more theoretically and proximally relevant to moment-to-moment experiences of feeding. This study, therefore, aimed to examine affect and food avoidance using automated affect analysis from facial response by measuring time-specific transitions in disgust during a laboratory eating paradigm. We hypothesized that phase transitions in disgust would distinguish temporally self-initiated eating from food avoidance. METHODS: Sixty-three adolescents with anorexia nervosa or another low-weight eating disorder (LWED) and 27 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited as part of a larger study; 45 patients and 22 controls provided data on autonomous eating and facial affect during a laboratory meal. Dynamic structural equation models quantified moment-to-moment relationships between disgust and feeding behavior. RESULTS: Self-initiated eating was associated with greater increases in disgust, but not fear, intensity among those with LWED relative to control participants and greater disgust intensity predicted lower likelihood of self-initiated eating. DISCUSSION: Phasic transitions in disgust provide moment-to-moment evidence of affective influence on self-initiated eating and lend credibility to the hypothesis that disgust contributes to food avoidance and initiation in individuals with LWED.

Eating Disorder and Other Psychiatric Hospitalizations in New Zealand During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: An unprecedented rise in eating disorder presentations has been documented in several countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored this phenomenon by analyzing nationwide psychiatric admissions over 5 years, controlling for demographic variables. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all hospitalizations in New Zealand with a primary psychiatric diagnosis from 2017 to 2021, using Poisson regression to calculate admission rates by diagnosis, before and during the pandemic. Using Fisher's exact test and Poisson modeling, national data were validated against a manually collected sample of eating disorder admissions. RESULTS: Eating disorder admissions rose significantly during the pandemic (RR 1.48, p < 0.0001), while other diagnoses remained unchanged or decreased slightly. Anorexia nervosa in 10 to 19-year-old females drove increases, with persistent elevations noted in the 10-14 age group. Pandemic-associated increases were more striking for Maori (RR 2.55), the indigenous Polynesian population, compared with non-Maori (RR 1.43). CONCLUSIONS: Eating disorder hospital presentations increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, while other psychiatric presentations to hospital remained relatively unchanged. Possible drivers include disrupted routines, barriers to healthcare access, altered social networks, and increased social media use. Clinical services require additional resources to manage the increased disease burden, especially in vulnerable pediatric and indigenous populations. Ongoing monitoring will be required to establish the time-course of pandemic-related clinical demand.

Effectiveness of the Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Maudsley Model of Anorexia nervosa (AN) Treatment for Adults (MANTRA) is recommended by NICE for the treatment of adults with AN. However, despite this fact, the approach remains relatively understudied. The aim of this study was to systematically update the research evidence regarding the use of the MANTRA in the treatment of Eating Disorders (ED). METHOD: The databases used were Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycInfo, including studies up to 31 May 2023. PRISMA guidelines were followed, and Cochrane tools were used to assess the risk of bias. The search focused on identifying published articles that discussed the usefulness of MANTRA as a component of treatment for ED, following PICO criteria. RESULTS: Nine studies spanning the period from 2011 to 2023 were included. Findings suggested that MANTRA was effective in improving body mass index (BMI), eating symptomatology and emotional state. There were generally no significant differences compared to other treatment conditions. Limitations to interpreting this systematic review include the methodological quality of included studies and the elevated risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: This review was the first to examine the effectiveness of MANTRA. The results indicate that MANTRA has shown effectiveness similar to other treatments for adults AN patients in addressing key clinical variables. It has been used in different populations (adolescents, males, inpatients) and formats (group, online) However, more research is needed to determine its effectiveness.

Gender stereotypes in eating disorder recognition.

PURPOSE: Eating disorder (ED) awareness is low. We assessed if ED symptom recognition, perceived need for treatment, perceived distress, perceived acceptability, and perceived prevalence differed depending on the gender of the individual with the ED. METHODS: 276 community participants were randomly assigned to one of three gender conditions (female, male, and non-binary), read three vignettes describing three different individuals with ED symptoms [anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED)], and then answered a series of questions related to participants ED symptom recognition, perceived need for treatment, perceived distress associated with having ED symptoms, perceived acceptability (e.g., the extent to which it may not be too bad to have an ED), and perceived prevalence. Mixed ANOVAs and chi-square analyses were conducted to examine differences between groups. RESULTS: There were no significant main effects of gender condition across the outcome variables. There were main effects of ED type for problem recognition, perceived need for treatment, perceived level of distress, and perceived prevalence, with participants being more likely to recognize a problem in the AN and BN vignettes than the BED vignettes, refer for treatment and rate a higher perceived level of distress in then AN vignette than the BN and BED vignettes, and perceive a higher prevalence rate in the BN vignette than the AN vignette. There was a significant gender by condition interaction for perceived prevalence, with participants rating a higher prevalence of AN in women and non-binary individuals than men and a higher prevalence of BN in women than non-binary individuals and men. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of education on EDs and awareness that EDs can occur in any individual, regardless of their gender identification. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, experimental study with randomization.

Protocol for a randomized clinical trial to confirm the effectiveness of online guided self-help family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: The leading evidence-based treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) in adolescents is Family-based Treatment (FBT). However, due to the intensive training requirements and lack of practitioners, it is often difficult for families to access FBT. Thus, innovations that improve access to care are needed. A pilot randomized study of a guided self-help version of Family-based Treatment (GSH-FBT) that utilized approximately 1/4 the amount of therapist time compared to FBT found that the approach was acceptable and appeared to achieve similar outcomes. The study protocol detailed in this manuscript compares the efficiency (clinician time) of GSH-FBT to Family-based Treatment via Videoconferencing (FBT-V) in a fully powered study in achieving clinical outcomes through a multi-site randomized clinical trial across the US and Ontario, Canada. METHODS: This study will randomize the families of adolescents ages 12-18 (n = 200) who meet DSM-5 criteria for AN to receive either GSH-FBT or FBT-V. Participants will be randomized to 15 sixty-minute sessions of FBT-V or to 10 twenty-minute sessions of online GSH-FBT. Major assessments will be conducted by a masked assessor at baseline, within treatment, at the end of treatment (EOT), and 6 and 12 months after the end of treatment (EOT). The primary outcomes of this study are changes to body weight and eating disorder cognitions relative to clinician time used (relative efficiency of treatment modality). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study may help increase access to care by providing a time efficient, affordable, more scalable intervention for adolescent AN compared to standard FBT.

A naturalistic study of plasma lipid alterations in female patients with anorexia nervosa before and after weight restoration treatment.

BACKGROUND: Plasma lipid concentrations in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) seem to be altered. METHODS: We conducted a naturalistic study with 75 adult female patients with AN and 26 healthy female controls (HC). We measured plasma lipid profile, sex hormones and used self-report questionnaires at admission and discharge. RESULTS: Total cholesterol (median (IQR): 4.9 (1.2)) and triglycerides (TG) (1.2 (0.8)) were elevated in AN at admission (BMI 15.3 (3.4)) compared with HC (4.3 (0.7), p = 0.003 and 0.9 (0.3), p = 0.006) and remained elevated at discharge (BMI 18.9 (2.9)) after weight restoration treatment. Estradiol (0.05 (0.1)) and testosterone (0.5 (0.7)) were lower in AN compared with HC (0.3 (0.3), p = < 0.001 and 0.8 (0.5), p = 0.03) and remained low at discharge. There was no change in eating disorder symptoms. Depression symptoms decreased (33 (17) to 30.5 (19), (p = 0.007)). Regression analyses showed that illness duration was a predictor of TG, age was a predictor of total cholesterol and LDL, while educational attainment predicted LDL and TG. CONCLUSION: Lipid concentrations remained elevated following weight restoration treatment, suggesting an underlying, premorbid dysregulation in the lipid metabolism in AN that persists following weight restoration. Elevated lipid concentrations may be present prior to illness onset in AN. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Fat is essential for the human body. Too much fat in the blood can be a sign of underlying illness including heart disease. This study investigated how plasma lipids (fats) are affected in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). We included 75 adult female individuals with AN and 26 healthy female controls, and measured lipids, sex hormones, and used questionnaires upon admission and discharge from treatment. We found that low-weight individuals with AN had higher lipids than the healthy controls, and these lipids remained elevated after weight restoration treatment. Additionally, individuals with AN had lower levels of sex hormones (estradiol and testosterone) at their low weight, and they stayed low even after weight restoration treatment. Eating disorder symptoms remained unchanged, but depression symptoms decreased during treatment. In conclusion, the study suggests that individuals with AN have changes in their lipid metabolism, which persists even after weight restoration treatment. We don't know the reason behind these elevated lipids, and therefore, this should be investigated further in future study.

Understanding oxytocin in human physiology and pathophysiology: A path towards therapeutics.

•Oxytocin is a multifaceted hypothalamic-pituitary hormone involved in energy homeostasis, mental health, and bone metabolism.•Oxytocin deficiency in energy deficit states and in hypopituitarism is associated with worse mental health and bone health.•Oxytocin modulates appetitive neurocircuitry, improves impulse control, and reduces food intake in humans.•Defining the oxytocin system in human physiology and pathophysiology could lead to novel therapeutic strategies.

Updating Prospective Self-Efficacy Beliefs About Cardiac Interoception in Anorexia Nervosa: An Experimental and Computational Study.

Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) typically hold altered beliefs about their body that they struggle to update, including global, prospective beliefs about their ability to know and regulate their body and particularly their interoceptive states. While clinical questionnaire studies have provided ample evidence on the role of such beliefs in the onset, maintenance, and treatment of AN, psychophysical studies have typically focused on perceptual and 'local' beliefs. Across two experiments, we examined how women at the acute AN (N = 86) and post-acute AN state (N = 87), compared to matched healthy controls (N = 180) formed and updated their self-efficacy beliefs retrospectively (Experiment 1) and prospectively (Experiment 2) about their heartbeat counting abilities in an adapted heartbeat counting task. As preregistered, while AN patients did not differ from controls in interoceptive accuracy per se, they hold and maintain 'pessimistic' interoceptive, metacognitive self-efficacy beliefs after performance. Modelling using a simplified computational Bayesian learning framework showed that neither local evidence from performance, nor retrospective beliefs following that performance (that themselves were suboptimally updated) seem to be sufficient to counter and update pessimistic, self-efficacy beliefs in AN. AN patients showed lower learning rates than controls, revealing a tendency to base their posterior beliefs more on prior beliefs rather than prediction errors in both retrospective and prospective belief updating. Further explorations showed that while these differences in both explicit beliefs, and the latent mechanisms of belief updating, were not explained by general cognitive flexibility differences, they were explained by negative mood comorbidity, even after the acute stage of illness.

Adjunctive electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of a patient with comorbid major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and anorexia nervosa - a case report.

Purpose: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is still-underdiagnosed and often accompanied by other psychiatric disorders affecting treatment and outcomes. Case description: Here we present a case report of a 28-year-old female patient with comorbid PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and anorexia nervosa (AN). The patient had been treated with various medications and attended trauma-focused psychotherapy. Because none of these treatments yielded satisfying improvement, the patient was referred for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). We had to overcome challenges such as the patient's false assumptions about ECT, the simultaneous use of benzodiazepines and the management of the side effects of ECT. The symptoms of MDD and PTSD improved after 12 treatment sessions. Comment: Our report suggests that ECT may be a safe and effective method for treating patients with PTSD and comorbid MDD and AN.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the right inferior parietal lobe on the body image perception in anorexia nervosa: A pilot randomized controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: Restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with distorted perception of body shape, previously linked to hypoactivity and reduced excitability of the right inferior parietal lobe (rIPL). Here, we investigated the impact of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF rTMS) of the rIPL on body shape perception in patients with AN. METHODS: Seventeen patients with AN (median [Q1_Q3] age, 35 [27_39] years; disease duration, 12 [6_18] years) were randomly assigned to receive real or sham HF (10 Hz) rTMS of the rIPL over a period of 2 weeks, comprising 10 sessions. The primary outcome measure was the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Secondary outcomes included eating disorder symptoms, body mass index, mood, anxiety, and safety. Data collection were done at baseline, post-rTMS, and at 2 weeks and 3 months post-rTMS. RESULTS: Following both real and sham rTMS of the rIPL, no significant differences were observed in body shape perception or other parameters. Both real and sham rTMS interventions were deemed safe and well tolerated. Notably, serious adverse events were associated with the underlying eating and mood disorders, resulting in hospitalization for undernutrition (five patients) or suicidal attempts (two patients). CONCLUSION: This pilot study does not support the use of rTMS of the rIPL as an effective method for improving body shape perception in individuals with the restrictive form of AN. Further research is warranted to comprehensively explore both the clinical and neurophysiological effects of HF rTMS in this population.

Avaliação da influência da pandemia de Covid-19 no risco de desenvolvimento de transtornos alimentares em mulheres / Assessment of the influence of the Covid-19 pandemicon the risk of developing eating disorders in women

Objetivo: verificar a influência da pandemia de Covid-19 no risco de desenvolvimento de transtornos alimentares em mulheres. Metodologia: pesquisa quantitativa, com mulheres com acesso ao computador, a celular e à internet. A coleta de dados foi realizada a partir de um questionário on-line contendo 60 perguntas, com respostas fechadas, que visavam conhecer a sua relação com a alimentação. Foram verificados o consumo alimentar e o risco de desenvolvimento de anorexia nervosa (Eating Attitudes Test - EAT-26) e bulimia nervosa (Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh- BITE). Resultados: participaram da pesquisa 92 mulheres, sendo que 81,50% (n=75) referiram que ficaram em casa durante a pandemia. Sobre a ingestão de alimentos, 45,70% (n=42) relataram que consumiram diariamente frutas e hortaliças, 55,40% (n=51) ingeriram de 1 a 2 vezes/semana bolachas, salgadinhos, doces e guloseimas e 62,00% (n=57) consumiam embutidos pelo menos 1 vez/semana. Ainda, 18,50% (n=17) apresentaram risco para o desenvolvimento de anorexia nervosa e 83,60% (n=73) risco de bulimia nervosa. Entretanto, analisando se esse risco estava associado à pandemia, verificou-se que não houve diferença significativa entre o grupo que permaneceu em casa e o grupo que saiu para trabalhar (p > 0,05). Conclusão: portanto, grande parte das voluntárias apresentaram um risco de desenvolver algum transtorno alimentar, entretanto, não houve uma relação entre o possível risco de desenvolver transtornos alimentares influenciado pela pandemia.

Objective: to verify the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on the risk of developing eating disorders in women. Methodology: quantitative research, with women with access to a computer, cell phone and internet. Data collection was carried out using an online questionnaire containing 60 questions, with closed answers, which aimed to understand their relationship with food. Food consumption Abstract and the risk of developing nervous anorexia (Eating Attitudes Test - EAT-26) and nervous bulimia (Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh - BITE) were verified. Results: 92 women participated in the research, with 81.50% (n=75) reporting that they stayed at home during the pandemic. Regarding food intake, 45.70% (n=42) reported that they consumed fruits and vegetables daily, 55.40% (n=51) ate cookies, snacks, sweets and sweets 1 to 2 times/week and 62, 00% (n=57) consumed sausages at least once/week. Furthermore, 18.50% (n=17) were at risk for developing nervous anorexia and 83.60% (n=73) were at risk for nervous bulimia. However, analyzing whether this risk was associated with the pandemic, it was found that there was no significant difference between the group that remained at home and the group that went out to work (p > 0.05). Conclusion: therefore, most of the volunteers presented a risk of developing an eating disorder, however, there was no relationship between the possible risk of developing eating disorders influenced by the pandemic.

Eating Disorders: All that a Pediatrician Should Know.

Eating Disorders are psychiatric conditions that can manifest clinically as malnutrition due to restrictive eating and weight control behaviors or obesity due to binge eating. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa have peak onset during adolescence and young adulthood. This population is at the highest risk due to psychosocial changes surrounding identity development and body image that occurs during this life-stage. Though binge eating disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder are not characterized by body image overvaluation, peak onset is also during adolescence and young adulthood.

New perspectives on the role of biological factors in anorexia nervosa: Brain volume reduction or oxidative stress, which came first?

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder (ED) that has seen an increase in its incidence in the last thirty years. Compared to other psychosomatic disorders, ED can be responsible for many major medical complications, moreover, in addition to the various systemic impairments, patients with AN undergo morphological and physiological changes affecting the cerebral cortex. Through immunohistochemical studies on portions of postmortem human brain of people affected by AN and healthy individuals, and western blot studies on leucocytes of young patients and healthy controls, this study investigated the role in the afore-mentioned processes of altered redox state. The results showed that the brain volume reduction in AN could be due to an increase in the rate of cell death, mainly by apoptosis, in which mitochondria, main cellular organelles affected by a decreased dietary intake, and a highly compromised intracellular redox balance, may play a pivotal role.

Attitudes and gaps in knowledge of the diagnosis, treatment, and psychopathology of eating disorders among different health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Health professionals from different specialties in medical and psychological areas play an important role in diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders (EDs). This study aimed to identify gaps in knowledge about the diagnosis, etiology, and management of EDs and to assess health professionals' attitudes towards these illnesses. METHODS: A new questionnaire was developed and validated. Residents and consultants working in disciplines involved in the management of EDs (namely, internal medicine, general practitioners, psychiatric area, psychological area, and surgical area) completed the questionnaire. Knowledge and attitudes were compared among the study groups through one-way ANCOVA and chi-square tests. RESULTS: The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 54 items assessing the following areas: stigma, treatment, physical complications, diagnosis, and aetiopathogenesis of EDs. For all health professionals the area of most deficiency was the aetiopathogenesis, while the best one was the management of physical complications. All medical professionals showed less knowledge than psychiatrists in terms of etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of EDs. A lack of knowledge about evidence-based psychotherapies, general psychopathology, and family members' role in the management of EDs emerged among all health professionals. Stigma was found among non-mental health professionals who considered these patients to be different from others and responsible for their abnormal eating behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Clarifying the health professionals' specific gaps occurring in the knowledge of EDs and in the attitudes towards these individuals may inform educational programs to improve early detection and management of EDs.

This article investigated attitudes towards individuals with eating disorders (EDs) and knowledge of the diagnosis and management of these illnesses among health professionals. A gap in the knowledge of diagnosis, aetiopathogenesis, and treatment emerged above all in non-mental health professionals. Psychotherapy effectiveness and the role of family members in the therapeutic process were not sufficiently acknowledged, and general psychological factors contributing to the onset of EDs were not recognized. Impaired attitudes were primarily observed among surgeons, although all health professionals considered these disorders as distinct from others and viewed these individuals as responsible for their abnormal eating behaviors. These findings outline a type of stigma towards EDs that is associated with health professionals and may impair early diagnosis and recovery. Educational programs should aim to provide continuous education to update and improve the knowledge of EDs among health professionals.

Myo-inositol Levels in the Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Predicts Anxiety-to-Eat in Anorexia Nervosa.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental and behavioral health condition characterized by an intense fear of weight or fat gain, severe restriction of food intake resulting in low body weight, and distorted self-perception of body shape or weight. While substantial research has focused on general anxiety in AN, less is known about eating-related anxiety and its underlying neural mechanisms. Therefore, we sought to characterize anxiety-to-eat in AN and examine the neurometabolic profile within the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), a brain region putatively involved in magnifying the threat response. Methods: Women seeking inpatient treatment for AN and women of healthy weight without a lifetime history of an eating disorder (healthy controls; HC) completed a computer-based behavioral task assessing anxiety-to-eat in response to images of higher (HED) and lower (LED) energy density foods. Participants also underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the dACC in a 3 Tesla scanner. Results: The AN group reported greater anxiety to eat HED and LED foods relative to the HC group. Both groups reported greater anxiety to eat HED foods relative to LED foods. The neurometabolite myo-inositol (mI) was lower in the dACC in AN relative to HC, and mI levels negatively predicted anxiety to eat HED but not LED foods in the AN group only. mI levels in the dACC were independent of body weight, body mass, and general anxiety. Conclusions: These findings provide critical new insight into the clinically challenging feature and underlying neural mechanisms of eating-related anxiety and indicate mI levels in the dACC could serve as a novel biomarker of illness severity that is independent of body weight to identify individuals vulnerable to disordered eating or eating pathology as well as a potential therapeutic target.

Oro-dental manifestations of eating disorders: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) pose a significant risk to health, especially when not diagnosed early. For several years EDs and oral health has been extensively studied, and now it is quite clear the existence of a correlation between specific oral manifestations and these disorders. While these oral signs could potentially aid early diagnosis of EDs, their identification and the eventual establishment of a correlation is currently heavily limited to the clinician's experience. The present systematic review critically examines existing literature, offering an updated overview of oro-dental manifestations associated with EDs. METHOD: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature were searched, and relevant epidemiological comparative studies were screened using the Rayyan software. No limitations have been imposed on the research regarding oro-dental outcomes, encompassing all medically diagnosed EDs. The quality of the studies was valuated using AXIS appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. RESULT: Out of 3990 studies, 32 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the synthesis. The identified eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and/or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, predominantly among female subjects, primarily originating from Europe. The evaluated oro-dental outcomes include dental erosion, caries, saliva assessment, hygiene-periodontal parameters, and mucosal tissue appearance. The association with erosion is confirmed while gingival recession, dentinal hypersensitivity, salivary flow thresholds and aspects relating to oral pathology are receiving increasing support from emerging evidence. DISCUSSION: This trend emphasizes the critical role of the complete intraoral examination to detect significant oro-dental signs that may indicate the onset of an ED.

The article is a review of existing studies that explores the link between eating disorders and oral health issues. It found that people with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, may experience dental problems such as tooth erosion, cavities, and altered saliva production. The review findings emphasize the importance of dental care providers recognizing these signs early and suggests better training for dental professionals. By doing so, they can help diagnose eating disorders sooner and recommend appropriate treatment. This approach aims to improve patients' overall wellbeing by addressing both the oral health issues and the underlying eating disorders, making it essential for patients and medical teams to be aware of the interconnectedness between oral health and eating disorders.

Group cognitive remediation therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa: Outcomes before, after, and during follow-up in a real-world setting in Japan.

Objective: Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) can be used as an adjunct treatment for adolescents with severe and complex anorexia nervosa (AN) requiring inpatient treatment. However, there has been only one study on CRT for adolescents with AN in Japan. This study explored group CRT as an adjunct to inpatient treatment for Japanese adolescents with severe and complex AN requiring inpatient care. Methods: Thirty-one adolescents with AN underwent group CRT. Neuropsychological (set-shifting and central coherence) and psychological assessments (motivation, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms) were measured before and after the intervention. Weight and AN symptoms were measured before and after the intervention and at follow-up, and the adolescents completed post-intervention and follow-up questionnaires. Results: Set-shifting led to medium to large effect size improvements. Medium effect size improvements in central coherence and depressive symptoms were also observed. The feedback from the adolescents was mainly positive, and the treatment completion rate was high. The patients also reported that the skills learned through group CRT could be applied in daily life. Conclusion: Group CRT may be beneficial for adolescents with severe and complex AN who require inpatient care.

Why was this study done? Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) can be used as an adjunct treatment for adolescents with severe and complex anorexia nervosa (AN) requiring inpatient treatment. However, there has been only one study on CRT for adolescents with AN in Japan. This study explored group CRT as an additional inpatient treatment for adolescents with severe and complex AN requiring inpatient care in Japan. What did the researchers do? A total of 31 adolescents with AN underwent group CRT. Cognitive function and psychological parameters (motivation, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms) were measured before and after group CRT. Body mass index and AN symptoms were evaluated before and after group CRT and at follow-up. The adolescents completed post-therapy and follow-up questionnaires. What did the researchers find? Cognitive function and depressive symptoms improved after group CRT. The feedback from the adolescents was mostly positive, and 29 of the 31 adolescents completed group CRT. Many adolescents also reported that they used the skills learned through group CRT in their daily lives. What do the findings mean? Group CRT may be beneficial for adolescents with severe and complex AN who require inpatient care.

Enhancing emotional abilities in anorexia nervosa treatment: A rolling-group cognitive remediation and emotional skills training protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterised by limited remission rates and emotional dimensions are often neglected. Cognitive remediation and emotional skills training (CREST) protocol aims to address cognitive and emotional factors. This study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of a modified rolling-group CREST protocol in an inpatient setting. METHODS: Quasi-experimental design evaluated CREST protocol in a rehabilitation programme. A total of 116 females diagnosed with AN were included, of whom 63 were included in the CREST protocol and 53 in the standard rehabilitation treatment. Various standardized measures were employed to assess psychopathology. Data collection occurred longitudinally, before and after CREST implementation. RESULTS: No significant differences emerged between groups regarding changes in specific eating psychopathology. CREST group exhibited significant improvements in emotion regulation (p = 0.002) and social skills (p = 0.014), besides a reduction in alexithymia (p < 0.001) and cognitive rigidity (p = 0.013). Empathic features remained stable. Participants reported positive perceptions of the CREST intervention. DISCUSSION: The study highlights the potential benefits of integrating emotional training within multidisciplinary intensive treatment for AN. Results emphasise the importance of treatment protocol with more affective and hot-cognition-related interventions, beyond weight-related psychopathology. Implementing a rolling-group CREST protocol in an inpatient setting showed promise in enhancing the emotional abilities of AN patients.