An evaluation of efficacy and acceptability of a novel manualised JuniorLEAP group programme for compulsive exercise, for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa, within an inpatient setting.

PURPOSE: Compulsive exercise is a symptom and a maintenance factor of eating disorders, which increases the risk of relapse. It has been considered a target for treatment, particularly for anorexia nervosa (AN). This audit aims to review the efficacy and acceptability of a new seven-week JuniorLEAP group therapy programme, for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. JuniorLEAP was adapted by the authors and based on the Loughborough Eating Disorder Activity Programme (LEAP) for adults. METHODS: 32 children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa were allocated to the group in an in-patient setting using entry criteria. All children and adolescents completed seven weekly sessions of the JuniorLEAP programme, as well as pre- and post-treatment questionnaires, including the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET). The children and adolescents were also asked to provide qualitative responses about the acceptability of the group. A paired t test was conducted to review the efficacy of the JuniorLEAP programme. RESULTS: Significant changes in eating disorder psychopathology was observed, as measured by the EDE-Q, with total mean scores reducing from 3.53 to 2.77 (p = 0.001). Compulsive exercise attitudes were also observed to reduce, as measured by the CET, with total mean scores reducing from 15.39 to 10.90 (p ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in all five subscales of the CET following completion of the group. Qualitative results also demonstrate the group to be acceptable to the patients. CONCLUSION: This study finds that a new manualised JuniorLEAP group therapy, specifically adapted for adolescents and children with AN, when used as an adjuvant with other therapies in a residential setting, significantly reduces their compulsive exercise, as measured by CET. The patients reported that the treatment was acceptable. Further research testing the new treatment in a randomised controlled trial is now needed, particularly to disentangle the impact of other aspects of standard treatment in reducing compulsive exercise. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Eating disorder symptoms and quality of life: where should clinicians place their focus in severe and enduring anorexia nervosa?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between quality of life (QoL), weight, and eating disorder symptoms across treatment in individuals with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN). METHOD: Participants were 63 adult females with SE-AN presenting to an outpatient, multisite randomized clinical trial. QoL was assessed using three well-validated QoL questionnaire measures, the EDQOL, SF-12, and WSAS. Participants' weight and severity of symptoms was assessed by Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) and weekly BMI change. RESULTS: Predictors of QoL were evaluated in the context of concurrent, prospective,1 and lagged mixed-effects models. Changes in both BMI and EDE were found to significantly affect current and future QoL ratings. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that improvements in QoL may be dependent on symptom change and weight gain. Treatments seeking solely to improve QoL may be unlikely to produce lasting change and clinicians should maintain a focus on weight and behavioral symptoms as much as on improvements in QoL.

BodyWise: evaluating a pilot body image group for patients with anorexia nervosa.

Body image disturbance can be enduring and distressing to individuals with eating disorders and effective treatments remain limited. This pilot study evaluated a group-based treatment-BodyWise-developed for use in full and partial hospitalization with patients with anorexia nervosa at low weight. A partial crossover waitlist design was used. BodyWise (N = 50) versus treatment as usual (N = 40) were compared on standardized measures of body image disturbance. Results demonstrated significant improvement in the group compared to treatment as usual for the primary outcome measure (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire Shape Concern subscale) and other manifestations of body image disturbance including body checking and body image quality of life. BodyWise appeared acceptable to participants, and was easy to deliver within the pragmatics of a busy eating disorder service. There is potential for its wider dissemination as a precursor to more active body image interventions.

Pre-treatment predictors of attrition in a randomised controlled trial of psychological therapy for severe and enduring anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Attrition is common in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and its causes are complex and incompletely understood. In particular, its relationship with adaptive function and motivational stage of change has been little studied. This study aimed to (1) investigate and (2) compare the strength of associations between adaptive function, stage of change and other previously found factors such as illness sub-type and treatment attrition in women with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN). METHODS: Participants were 63 adult women with SE-AN of at least 7 years duration who were enrolled in a multi-site randomized controlled trial conducted from July 2007 through June 2011. Treatment comprised 30 outpatient visits over 8 months of either Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (CBT-AN) or Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) both of which were modified for severe and enduring illness. Assessments were done at baseline, end of treatment, and 6 and 12 month post treatment follow-up. Demographic variables, duration of illness, specific and generic health related quality of life (QoL), eating disorder (ED) and mood disorder symptoms, social adjustment, body mass index (BMI), and motivation for change were assessed with interview and self-report questionnaires. Treatment attrition was defined as leaving therapy after either premature termination according to trial protocol or self-instigated discharge. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate relative strength of associations. RESULTS: Those who did not complete treatment were significantly more likely to have the purging sub-type of anorexia nervosa and poorer ED related QoL. There were no significant differences between attrition and which therapy was received, educational level, and global ED psychopathology, stage of change, BMI, social adjustment, duration of illness or level of depression. The strongest predictors on multivariable analysis were ED QoL and AN-purging subtype. CONCLUSION: This study supported previous findings of associations between attrition and purging subtype. Furthermore, we found associations between a potentially important cycle of attrition, and poorer EDQoL, which has not been previously reported. Contrary to expectations we did not find an association with BMI, severity of ED symptoms, low level of motivation to change ED features, or level of education.

Therapeutic alliance in two treatments for adults with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the strength and role of therapeutic alliance in a trial comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for anorexia nervosa (CBT-AN) and Specialist Supportive Clinical Management for the treatment of severe and enduring AN (SE-AN). METHOD: Participants were 63 adult females with SE-AN presenting to an outpatient, multisite randomized controlled trial conducted at two clinical sites. Participants completed measures assessing their perception of the quality of the therapeutic relationship, eating disorder (ED) symptomatology, and depressive symptomatology. RESULTS: Beyond the effect of early treatment change and treatment assignment, early therapeutic alliance was a significant predictor of Restraint and Shape Concern at follow-up (ps < .02). Late therapeutic alliance was a significant predictor of weight change, depressive symptomatology, and ED symptomatology at end of treatment and follow-up (ps < .008), with the exception of Shape Concern at follow-up (p = .07). DISCUSSION: The results suggest that therapeutic alliance can be effectively established in the treatment of SE-AN and may be relevant for treatment response, particularly in late treatment, on some aspects of ED and depressive symptomatology.

Assessment of quality of life in people with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa: a comparison of generic and specific instruments.

BACKGROUND: Criticisms that generic measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are not sensitive to impairment in anorexia nervosa (AN) has spurred the development of disease-specific measures. This study aimed to compare the psychometric properties of a generic to a disease-specific measure of HRQoL. METHODS: 63 participants with AN completed measures of a generic HRQoL (SF-12), disease-specific HRQoL (Eating Disorders Quality of Life Questionnaire; EDQOL), functional impairment (days out of role; DOR; Work and Social Adjustment Scale; WSAS), and eating disorder severity (Eating Disorder Examination; EDE) at baseline, post-treatment, and 6- and 12-months follow-up. Cronbach's α was computed for the SF-12 and EDQOL (internal consistency). Correlations were assessed between SF-12/EDQOL scores and DOR, WSAS, and EDE scores (convergence validity). Three sets of three multiple linear regressions were performed using SF-12 and EDQOL scores as predictors and change in DOR, WSAS, and EDE global scores from baseline to (i) post-treatment, (ii) 6-month follow-up, (iii) and 12-month follow-up as dependent variables (predictive validity and sensitivity). RESULTS: The EDQOL displayed stronger internal consistency (α = 0.92) than the SF-12 (α = 0.80). The SF-12 converged more strongly with DOR and the WSAS (r(p) = -0.31 to -0.63 vs. 0.06 to 0.70), while the EDQOL converged more strongly with the EDE (r(p) = -0.01 to 0.48 vs. -0.01 to -0.37). The SF-12 demonstrated stronger predictive validity (ß = -0.55 to 0.29) and sensitivity to changes in ED severity (ß = -0.47 to 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: The SF-12 is a valid and sensitive measure of HRQoL impairment in patients with AN. While the SF-12 may be preferred in research comparing EDs to other populations, and in research and practice as an indicator of functional impairment; the EDQOL may be preferred by clinicians and researchers interested in HRQoL impairment specifically associated with an ED and as an additional indicator of ED severity.

The clinician administered staging instrument for anorexia nervosa: development and psychometric properties.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate an instrument to assess severity in anorexia nervosa (AN), the Clinician Administered Staging Instrument for Anorexia Nervosa (CASIAN). METHOD: Candidate items for the CASIAN were developed in three phases (domain, content, and item generation) followed by a pilot study. The psychometric properties of the resultant 34-item questionnaire were investigated in cross-sectional and longitudinal samples (N = 171) with DSM-IV AN and subthreshold AN. RESULTS: Item and factor analysis procedures resulted in a refined 23-item CASIAN comprising of six factors ("Motivation," "Weight," "Illness Duration," "Obsessionality," "Bulimic Behaviors," and "Acute Issues"). The CASIAN had high internal consistency (.811), test-retest (.957), and interrater reliability (.973). Preliminary support for the convergent, discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validity of the CASIAN was found. DISCUSSION: The CASIAN is a psychometrically sound instrument. Further studies are needed to confirm the factor structure and assess its clinical and research utility.

Eating disorders in older women: does late onset anorexia nervosa exist?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether eating disorders can present for the first time in older people. METHOD: This is a descriptive study of patients above the age of 50 years who have presented to a national eating disorder center within the last 10 years. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were identified; data were available for 26 of these patients and 11 agreed for further interview and questionnaire completion. There were no cases where the eating disorder had its onset late in life. Of the 11 interviewed, six participants retained a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, four had Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified and only one was recovered. Comorbid depression was universal in those still suffering with an eating disorder diagnosis, and their level of social functioning was impaired. DISCUSSION: Anorexia nervosa is a chronic and enduring mental illness that, although rare, can be found in older people. In our sample, we found no evidence of late-onset disorders; all described cases were lifelong.

The prevalence of eating disorders in women with facial hirsutism: an epidemiological cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of DSM IV-defined eating disorders is evaluated in a population of women with facial hirsutism. METHOD: The Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM IV) and the Eating Disorder Evaluation (EDE) were administered to 80 hirsute women presenting routinely to an endocrine outpatient clinic. Objective phenotypic severity of hyperandrogenic symptoms, gender role, self-esteem, and social adjustment were quantified using validated measures and weight, height, and fertility were assessed during interview. RESULTS: The prevalence of eating disorders was 36.3% (22.5% EDNOS, 12.6% Bulimia Nervosa, 1.3% Anorexia Nervosa). Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and poor social adjustment were more common in participants suffering from an eating disorder, and co-morbidity of PCOS was universal in eating disordered cases. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that hirsute women are at high risk of developing an eating disorder. Factors associated with eating disorders are examined and explanatory hypotheses are suggested for the possible underlying mechanisms in these women.

Examining a staging model for anorexia nervosa: empirical exploration of a four stage model of severity.

BACKGROUND: An illness staging model for anorexia nervosa (AN) has received increasing attention, but assessing the merits of this concept is dependent on empirically examining a model in clinical samples. Building on preliminary findings regarding the reliability and validity of the Clinician Administered Staging Instrument for Anorexia Nervosa (CASIAN), the current study explores operationalising CASIAN severity scores into stages and assesses their relationship with other clinical features. METHOD: In women with DSM-IV-R AN and sub-threshold AN (all met AN criteria using DSM 5), receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis (n = 67) assessed the relationship between the sensitivity and specificity of each stage of the CASIAN. Thereafter chi-square and post-hoc adjusted residual analysis provided a preliminary assessment of the validity of the stages comparing the relationship between stage and treatment intensity and AN sub-types, and explored movement between stages after six months (Time 3) in a larger cohort (n = 171). RESULTS: The CASIAN significantly distinguished between milder stages of illness (Stage 1 and 2) versus more severe stages of illness (Stages 3 and 4), and approached statistical significance in distinguishing each of the four stages from one other. CASIAN Stages were significantly associated with treatment modality and primary diagnosis, and CASIAN Stage at Time 1 was significantly associated with Stage at 6 month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Provisional support is provided for a staging model in AN. Larger studies with longer follow-up of cases are now needed to replicate and extend these findings and evaluate the overall utility of staging as well as optimal staging models.

Predictors of therapeutic alliance in two treatments for adults with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic alliance (TA) has been found to be a significant predictor of outcome for patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN), accounting for more variance than treatment type. To better understand how to promote TA for this population, the aim of the current study was to investigate predictors of TA in adults with SE-AN. METHODS: Participants were 63 adult females with SE-AN presenting to an outpatient, multi-site randomized controlled trial conducted at two clinical sites. Participants' perception of the quality of their therapeutic relationship, demographic information, and eating disorder symptomatology were assessed via interview and questionnaire measures. RESULTS: Baseline ratings of how successful participants believed treatment would be for them was the only variable to significantly predict early (p = .01), mid (p = .009), and late treatment alliance (p = .03). No other variables investigated predicted the quality of patient rated TA at any point in treatment (ps > .57). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest instilling hope in treatment outcome may enhance TA, and in turn, outcomes for patients with SE-AN in outpatient therapy.

Predictors and moderators of outcome for severe and enduring anorexia nervosa.

Few of the limited randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) have explored predictors and moderators of outcome. This study aimed to identify predictors and moderators of outcome at end of treatment (EOT) and 6- and 12-month follow-up for adults with AN (N = 63). All participants met criteria for severe and enduring AN (duration of illness ≥ 7 years) and participated in an RCT of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-AN) and specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM). General linear models were utilized and included all available outcome data at all time points. Outcome was assessed across three domains: eating disorder quality of life (EDQOL), mental health (MCS), and depressive symptoms (BDI). Predictors of better outcome included: lower age, shorter duration of illness, having AN-R, being employed, not taking psychotropic medication, and better social adjustment. Four moderators of treatment outcome emerged: eating disorder psychopathology (EDE Global), depression (BDI), age, and AN subtype. Participants with higher baseline scores on these measures, older age, or binge eating/purging subtype benefited more from CBT-AN than SSCM. Older patients with more severe eating-related psychopathology and depression have better outcomes in a behaviorally targeted treatment such as CBT-AN rather than a supportive treatment such as SSCM.

Confirmatory factor analysis for two questionnaires of caregiving in eating disorders.

Objective: Caring for someone diagnosed with an eating disorder (ED) is associated with a high level of burden and psychological distress which can inadvertently contribute to the maintenance of the illness. The Eating Disorders Symptom Impact Scale (EDSIS) and Accommodation and Enabling Scale for Eating Disorders (AESED) are self-report scales to assess elements of caregiving theorised to contribute to the maintenance of an ED. Further validation and confirmation of the factor structures for these scales are necessary for rigorous evaluation of complex interventions which target these modifiable elements of caregiving. Method: EDSIS and AESED data from 268 carers of people with anorexia nervosa (AN), recruited from consecutive admissions to 15 UK inpatient or day patient hospital units, were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis to test model fit by applying the existing factor structures: (a) four-factor structure for the EDSIS and (b) five-factor structure for the AESED. Results: Confirmatory factor analytic results support the existing four-factor and five-factor structures for the EDSIS and the AESED, respectively. Discussion: The present findings provide further validation of the EDSIS and the AESED as tools to assess modifiable elements of caregiving for someone with an ED.

Staging anorexia nervosa: conceptualizing illness severity.

In recent years, there has been increasing attention to the conceptualization of anorexia nervosa (AN) and its diagnostic criteria. While varying levels of severity within the illness category of AN have long been appreciated, neither a precise definition of severity nor an empirical examination of severity in AN has been undertaken. The aim of this article is to review the current state of knowledge on illness severity and to propose a theoretical model for the definition and conceptualization of severity in AN. AN is associated with significant medical morbidity which is related to the 'severity' of presentation on such markers as body mass index, eating and purging behaviours. The development of a functional staging system, based on symptom severity, is indicated for reasons similar to those cited by the cancer lobby. Improving case management and making appropriate treatment recommendations have been the primary purpose of staging in other fields, and might also apply to AN. Such a standardized staging system could potentially ease communication between treatment settings, and increase the specificity and comparability of research findings in the field of AN.

Body image treatment within an inpatient program for anorexia nervosa: the role of mirror exposure in the desensitization process.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined the role of mirror confrontation in the desensitization process of a body image treatment within an inpatient program for anorexia nervosa. METHOD: A within-subjects design was used. It compared the impact of two modes of group body image treatment on body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors. Both treatments followed a set format of exposure exercises and homework, but the modified treatment also included mirror confrontation as an exposure exercise. RESULTS: Standard treatment did not produce any significant changes. Modified treatment produced a significant and sustained improvement in body dissatisfaction and a significant reduction in body anxiety and avoidance behaviors. DISCUSSION: Mirror confrontation is a more effective form of exposure because of the strong emotional response it elicits. Patients' pronounced emotional response to this exercise allowed easier identification of the affective and behavioral components of body dissatisfaction and more cogent links into a developmental body image timeline.

Screening for symptoms of eating disorders: reliability of the SCOFF screening tool with written compared to oral delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The validity of the SCOFF delivered orally as a screening tool for eating disorders has previously been established, but clinical screening for eating disorders also occurs via written format, for example, in occupational health settings. The objective was to compare responses to the SCOFF between verbal and written administration. METHOD: In a volunteer group of nursing and midwifery students at a South London University SCOFF was delivered orally at interview and via written questionnaire. Order was allocated randomly with repeat administration interrupted by distraction questions. RESULTS: There were 185 students who participated, providing 178 fully completed responses. Twenty subjects were male. There was overall agreement in the scores of 157 subjects (88.2%), providing a kappa coefficient of 0.811, with agreement in prediction of eating disorder for 167 (93.8%) and a kappa value of 0.824 (both p < 0.001). For 82 subjects administered the SCOFF verbally first followed by the written version, the kappa statistic was 0.752 (p < 0.001). For 96 subjects with SCOFF administered in reverse order (written form first), kappa was 0.862 (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Results demonstrated overall good replicability of the SCOFF administered as a written questionnaire compared to oral interview. Two trends were noted. The first was towards higher scores with written versus oral delivery irrespective of order, possibly indicating enhanced disclosure via written format. The second was of less consistency where verbal preceded written responses. Altogether findings support use of the SCOFF where a concise, valid and reliable screening for eating disorders is required in written form.