Emotion coaching skills as an augmentation to family-based therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A pilot effectiveness study with families with high expressed emotion.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of augmenting family-based treatment (FBT) for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) with a parent emotion coaching intervention (EC) focused on reducing parent expressed emotion. METHOD: In this pilot effectiveness trial, families of adolescents with AN/AAN exhibiting high expressed emotion received standard FBT with either (1) EC group or (2) support group (an attention control condition focused on psychoeducation). RESULTS: Forty-one adolescents with AN or AAN were recruited (88% female, Mage = 14.9 ± 1.6 years, 95% White: Non-Hispanic, 1% White: Hispanic, 1% Bi-racial: Asian). Most study adolescents were diagnosed with AN (59%) while 41% were diagnosed with AAN. Participating parents were predominantly mothers (95%). Recruitment and retention rates were moderately high (76% and 71%, respectively). High acceptability and feasibility ratings were obtained from parents and interventionists with 100% reporting the EC intervention was "beneficial"-"very beneficial." The FBT + EC group demonstrated higher parental warmth scores at post-treatment compared to the control group (standardized effect size difference, d = 1.58), which was maintained at 3-month follow-up. Finally, at post-treatment, the FBT + EC group demonstrated higher rates of full remission from AN/AAN (40%) compared to FBT + support (27%), and were nine times more likely to be weight restored by 3-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: Augmenting FBT with emotion coaching for parents with high expressed emotion is acceptable, feasible, and demonstrates preliminary effectiveness. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Family based treatment for AN/AAN is the recommended treatment for youth but families with high criticism/low warmth are less likely to respond to this treatment. Adding a parent emotion coaching group (EC) where parents learn to talk to their adolescents about tough emotions is feasible and well-liked by families.

Predictors of caregiver burden before starting family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa and associations with weight gain during treatment.

PURPOSE: Caregivers play a pivotal role in the success of family-based treatment (FBT) for anorexia nervosa (AN). Caregiver burden is frequently demonstrated in eating disorders (EDs) and may impact FBT outcomes. This study examined factors associated with caregiver burden before starting FBT and whether pre-treatment caregiver burden was associated with weight gain during FBT. METHODS: Participants included 114 adolescents with AN or atypical AN (mean age = 15.6 years, SD = 1.4) and a primary caregiver (87.6% mothers) who received FBT in the United States. Before starting treatment, participants completed self-report measures of caregiver burden (via the Eating Disorder Symptom Impact Scale), caregiver anxiety, caregiver depression, and ED symptoms. Clinical characteristics and percentage of target goal weight (%TGW) at FBT session 1 and 3 and 6 months after starting treatment were obtained via retrospective chart review. Hierarchical regressions examined predictors of caregiver burden before FBT initiation. Associations between pre-treatment caregiver burden and %TGW gain at 3 and 6 months after starting FBT were assessed with hierarchical regressions. RESULTS: Caregiver anxiety (p < 0.001), family history of EDs (p = 0.028), adolescent mental health treatment history (p = 0.024), and ED symptoms (p = 0.042) predicted caregiver burden before starting FBT. Pre-treatment caregiver burden was not associated with %TGW gain at 3 or 6 months. Males demonstrated less %TGW gain than females at 3 months (p = 0.010) and 6 months (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Proactively evaluating caregiver burden before starting FBT is suggested. Providing recommendations and/or referrals for identified caregiver vulnerabilities could indirectly impact FBT progress. Males in FBT could require longer courses of treatment and extra vigilance to this demographic is suggested. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control analytic study.

Caregiver and adolescent intuitive eating behavior: associations with weight change during family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa.

PURPOSE: Intuitive eating (IE) is an adaptive eating construct for which little research exists in eating disorder (ED) samples. IE is negatively correlated with disordered eating behaviors in healthy adolescents and adults, and similar associations have been found in adults with EDs. This study aims to examine IE in a treatment seeking sample of adolescents and their caregivers to understand the role of IE in weight gain during FBT. METHODS: Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations were calculated in a sample of 47 pairs of adolescent patients and their caregivers who initiated outpatient FBT at a large academic medical center. Analyses examined associations between caregiver and adolescent IE on the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES), change in percent expected body weight (%EBW) by session 4 and end of treatment (EOT), clinical impairment, and ED pathology. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between aspects of adolescent IE, ED symptoms, and clinical impairment. Caregiver IES scores (Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues, Body-Food Choice Congruence, IES Total) were negatively related to adolescent ED symptoms (EDE-Q Weight Concerns, EDE-Q Shape Concerns, EDE-Q Global) at baseline. Caregiver IE (Eating for Physical Rather than Emotional Reasons) was positively associated with adolescent weight gain at FBT session 4 and EOT, even when statistically adjusting for gender and initial level of care. CONCLUSION: Study results were consistent with past research indicating adolescent IE is negatively associated with ED behaviors, cognitions, and impairment. This study is the first to provide evidence that caregiver IE is positively associated with adolescent weight gain in FBT and is the first to provide evidence that caregiver IE is negatively related to adolescent ED symptoms. Future research should examine adolescent and caregiver IE throughout FBT to understand the role of IE in treatment response. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Modifiable factors associated with mental health symptoms in siblings of adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

PURPOSE: Research demonstrates that anorexia nervosa (AN) takes a significant toll on affected families, yet the well-being of siblings has been largely overlooked. This study examines mental health symptoms in siblings of adolescents with AN and seeks to identify modifiable factors associated with well-being. METHOD: Participants included 34 siblings (aged 11-19) of adolescents with AN and 47 age and sex matched controls. Participants and their caregivers completed assessments of anxiety, depression, internalizing and externalizing problems, and parentification. Siblings of adolescents with AN also completed the Sibling Perception Questionnaire, an assessment of perceptions and attitudes about AN. RESULTS: Analyses indicated that siblings of adolescents with AN reported greater anxiety and parentification than controls. On caregiver reports of participants' internalizing and externalizing symptoms, no significant differences were found across groups. In siblings of adolescents with AN, females were more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and negative attitudes and perceptions about AN than males. Perceived negative interpersonal interactions, specific to having a brother or sister with AN, were associated with greater anxiety and depression among AN siblings. CONCLUSION: Findings from this pilot study suggest that siblings of adolescents with AN are vulnerable to anxiety and parentification behaviors. Negative interpersonal interactions specific to having a brother or sister with AN may perpetuate risk for poorer well-being. Caregivers may not be attuned to these struggles, highlighting the importance of provider and family education about sibling vulnerabilities. Therapeutic interventions that target siblings of adolescents with AN are also indicated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control analytic study.

Dialectical behavioral therapy skills group as an adjunct to family-based therapy in adolescents with restrictive eating disorders.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is commonly used in the treatment of eating disorders (ED), yet few studies have examined the utility of DBT skills groups as an adjunct to evidence-based therapy for ED. Thus, we sought to examine the preliminary efficacy of a DBT skills group as an adjunct to Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for adolescent restrictive ED. Our preliminary pilot study included 18 adolescent girls ages 13-18 (M= 15.3, SD = 1.64) with restrictive ED, including Anorexia Nervosa (AN; N = 10), Atypical Anorexia Nervosa (AAN, N = 5), and Other Specific Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED; N = 3). All participants were enrolled in a 6-month, weekly DBT skills group and were concurrently receiving family-based treatment (FBT). Participants who completed the intervention experienced large effect sizes for increases in adaptive skills (Cohen's d = .71) and decreases in general dysfunctional coping strategies (Cohen's d = .85); and small to medium effect sizes for decreases in binge eating (Cohen's d = .40) and increases in percent expected body weight (% EBW; Cohen's d = .32). Finally, small effect sizes were evidenced in decreases in Global EDE-Q scores (Cohen's d = .26), EDE-Q restraint (Cohen's d = .29) and CDI scores (Cohen's d = .28). Our study presents promising preliminary data suggesting that adolescents with restrictive EDs receiving FBT could benefit from an adjunctive DBT skills group. Feasibility of and considerations for tailoring a DBT skills group to an outpatient ED treatment program are discussed.

An intensive family-based treatment guided intervention for medically hospitalized youth with anorexia nervosa: Parental self-efficacy and weight-related outcomes.

Recent studies suggest the efficacy of family-based treatment (FBT) among youth with anorexia nervosa (AN) in intensive treatment settings. This study aimed to assess weight outcomes in youth who received an FBT intervention while hospitalized for medical complications of AN. Parental self-efficacy among participating caregivers was also measured. Post-discharge weights of 49 participants were compared with weights of 44 youth who were hospitalized prior to the provision of the FBT intervention. Youth who received the FBT intervention gained significantly more weight than youth in the retrospective treatment as usual group at 3 and 6 months following discharge. FBT youth were 2.84 times more likely than retrospective treatment as usual youth to achieve at least 95% of treatment goal weight at 6 months post-discharge. Finally, parental self-efficacy significantly increased in caregivers who participated in the FBT intervention. Findings provided preliminary support for the provision of FBT to medically hospitalized youth with AN.

Adolescent males with atypical anorexia nervosa and premorbid obesity: three case reports.

PURPOSE: Premorbid obesity is an identified risk factor for eating disorder (ED) development among adolescent males. However, pervasive gender- and weight-related biases about ED inhibit timely diagnosis and treatment among this demographic. This study examined the psychological and medical characteristics of three adolescent males with premorbid obesity who were not diagnosed with atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) until medical sequelae of malnutrition warranted emergent hospitalization. Factors associated with diagnostic delays among these cases were identified to facilitate increased awareness of this at-risk demographic. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was conducted on three adolescent males (aged 12-17) with AAN and premorbid obesity who were medically hospitalized for 13-24 days (M = 20.3, SD = 9.7). Demographic variables, psychological characteristics, and physical data were extracted. RESULTS: Each case presented at normal or overweight BMI status (M = 22.7 kg/m2, SD = 3.2) following a significant loss of weight ranging from 19 to 42% of total body mass (M = 31.7%, SD = 9.5) over 5-12 months (M = 8.3, SD = 2.9). Plausible factors associated with diagnostic delays included initial weight loss recommendations by a medical provider, with little support or oversight; limited insight that symptoms were problematic; social reinforcement of dieting behaviors; low prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity; parental obesity; and parental history of bariatric surgery. CONCLUSIONS: These cases elucidate the importance of close follow-up of youth with obesity who are encouraged to lose weight. Further education about AAN among males with premorbid obesity is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention.

Examination of Psychosocial and Physiological Risk for Bulimic Symptoms in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Transitioning to an Insulin Pump: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: This study tested hypotheses drawn from a risk model positing that psychosocial risk plus disease-related and treatment factors contribute to bulimic symptoms in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) transitioning to an insulin pump. The goal of this study was to examine whether disease-related factors, particularly disease- and treatment-based disruption in hunger and satiety, contribute to report of bulimic symptoms in youth with T1D after accounting for psychosocial risk factors. Methods: 43 youth (ages 10-17, 54% female) with established T1D were recruited before transition from multiple daily injections to insulin-pump therapy from three tertiary pediatric diabetes centers. Participants completed measures of bulimic symptoms, depressive symptoms dietary restraint, and the Diabetes Treatment and Satiety Scale, a diabetes-specific questionnaire assessing hunger and satiety cues and eating behavior in response to blood glucose levels and treatment. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression was used to assess contributions of psychosocial and disease-based risk to report of bulimic symptoms. After assessing the contributions of body mass index, body image dissatisfaction, and dietary restraint, a significant 2-way interaction emerged between depression and diabetes-related uncontrollable hunger related to bulimic symptoms (ß = 1.82, p < .01). Conclusions: In addition to psychosocial risk, disease- and treatment-based hunger and satiety dysregulation appear to be important factors contributing to report of bulimic symptoms in youth with T1D. These preliminary findings have significant treatment implications for bulimic symptoms in youth with T1D.

Reproductive and Appetite Hormones and Bulimic Symptoms during Midlife.

Eating disorders and related symptoms occur during midlife; however, little is known about their aetiology. It has been hypothesised that perimenopause represents a window of vulnerability for the development or exacerbation of eating disorder symptomatology because, like puberty, perimenopause is a period of reproductive hormone change. We compared symptoms of bulimia nervosa (bulimic symptomatology) assessed via mean scores on a self-report questionnaire in premenopausal and perimenopausal women. We also examined the association between hormone concentrations (reproductive/appetite) and bulimic symptomatology. No mean differences in bulimic symptomatology were observed between premenopause and perimenopause. However, there was a significant positive association between leptin and binge eating. Although no significant associations between reproductive hormones and bulimic symptomatology were observed, additional research is needed to provide definitive information. It is essential to learn more about the aetiology of eating disorders and related symptomatology across the lifespan in order to develop age-relevant treatment and prevention programs. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Genetic and environmental components to self-induced vomiting.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the association between the genetic and environmental factors contributing to the liability to having ever engaged in self-induced vomiting (SIV initiation) and the genetic and environmental factors contributing to regular SIV behaviors (weekly or daily) for weight control. METHOD: SIV was assessed in 3,942 women from monozygotic twin pairs and 2,790 women from same-sex dizygotic twin pairs, aged 20-47, from the Swedish Twin study of Adults: Genes and Environment. A causal-contingent-common pathway model assessed the extent to which genetic and environmental factors that influence initiation of SIV also influence regular SIV behaviors. RESULTS: In the best-fit model, genetic and individual-specific environmental factors influenced liability to SIV initiation. The genetic factors influencing regular SIV behaviors were the same as the genetic factors influencing SIV initiation. Additional individual-specific environmental factors that were unrelated to SIV initiation influenced regular SIV behaviors. DISCUSSION: Our findings provide evidence that the underlying liabilities for SIV initiation and regular SIV lie on the same continuum given the degree of overlap in risk between SIV initiation and regular SIV behaviors. Further, the lack of specific genetic factors and the importance of individual-specific environmental factors for regular SIV behaviors highlight the significance of environmental factors in the etiology of eating disorder symptomatology and the non-deterministic nature of genetic factors. Finally, our results suggest that when it comes to preventing individuals from developing regular SIV behavior, intervening at an environmental level is warranted.

Impact of short-term refeeding on appetite and meal experiences in new onset adolescent eating disorders.

Restrictive eating disorders (ED) are increasing and represent a serious risk to the health of adolescent females. Restrictive ED in youth are often treated through aggressive short-term refeeding. Although evidence supports that this intervention is the "gold standard" for improving ED outcomes in youth, little research has specifically probed appetite and meal-related responses to this type of intensive, short-term refeeding in newly diagnosed individuals. Information about appetite and meal-related dysfunction could provide valuable insights regarding treatment-interfering features of ED in both acute inpatient and longer-term outpatient treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hunger, fullness, olfactory, and gustatory responses of adolescents with newly-diagnosed restrictive ED and to probe how and when these responses are altered by refeeding. Using a quasi-experimental ecologically valid methodology, this study described and compared profiles of hunger, fullness, olfactory, and gustatory responses in adolescent females (n = 15) with newly diagnosed restrictive ED at hospital admission (i.e., severe malnutrition) and after medical refeeding, in comparison to healthy controls (n = 15). Results showed that newly diagnosed (i.e., malnourished) adolescents with ED showed significantly different meal-related experiences than controls. Refeeding improved some of these differences, but not all. Following refeeding, females with ED continued to show lower hunger, greater fullness, and lower pleasantness of smell ratings compared to controls. Unpleasantness of taste ratings maladaptively increased, such that females who were re-fed reported more aversive scents than pre-treatment. Profiles of meal-related responses were also identified and compared between groups. The applicability of these findings are discussed within the context of critical periods of change during refeeding treatment and potentially promising intervention targets that might enhance treatment outcomes for adolescents with newly onset, restrictive ED.

Topical review: a comprehensive risk model for disordered eating in youth with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Provide an updated literature review on prevalence, measurement, and correlates of disordered eating in youth with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), present a novel theoretical risk model (i.e., The Modified Dual Pathway Model) for disordered eating in youth with T1D incorporating psychosocial and physiological risk factors, and discuss clinical implications. METHODS: Literature review of prevalence, correlates, risk factors, and outcomes of disordered eating behavior (DEB) in youth with T1D. RESULTS: Insulin treatment, subsequent weight gain, and disruptions to hunger and satiety regulation are hypothesized disease-related mechanisms through which the treatment of T1D may increase vulnerability to development of behavior characterized as DEB. The Modified Dual Pathway Model integrates these factors with a validated psychosocial risk (body dissatisfaction, depression, and abstinence violation) model for DEB in nondiabetic youth. CONCLUSIONS: The Modified Dual Pathway model of DEB in youth with T1D is a comprehensive representation of both psychosocial and T1D-related risk factors with the potential to inform future interventions for this population.

Eating disorder symptoms among transgender and gender diverse youth.

Compared to cisgender peers, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth and adults report elevated eating disorder (ED) symptoms likely related to gender dysphoria and attempts to modify their bodies accordingly. Less is known about the impact on gender-affirming care and ED symptoms. This study aimed to expand on extant research and describe ED symptoms in TGD youth seeking gender-affirming care while exploring potential associations between gender-affirming hormone use and ED symptoms. A total of 251 TGD youth completed the Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) as part of routine clinical care. ANCOVAs and negative binomial regressions examined differences in ED symptoms among transgender females (identifying as female but assigned male at birth) and transgender males (identifying as male but assigned female at birth). ED severity was not significantly different among transgender females versus transgender males, (p = .09), or associated with gender-affirming hormone use (p = .07). Transgender females receiving gender-affirming hormones reported a greater proportion of objective binge eating episodes compared to those who were not (p = .03). Over a quarter of TGD youth reported engagement in ED behaviors suggesting assessment and intervention related to ED behaviors among TGD youth is imperative since adolescence is a particularly vulnerable period for adolescents and engagement in ED behaviors could lead to full ED development and medical risk.

Advancing the Assessment and Treatment of Comorbid Pediatric Chronic Functional Abdominal Pain (CFAP) and Restrictive Eating Disorders.

The aim of this review is to heighten awareness of the association between chronic functional abdominal pain (CFAP) and restrictive eating disorders (ED) in adolescents. We describe current diagnostic practices and propose future research efforts to improve the assessment and treatment of comorbid CFAP and restrictive EDs. A narrative review of the literature on CFAP and EDs was performed using PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and PsycINFO and the following search terms: 'restrictive eating disorders', 'chronic functional abdominal pain', 'chronic pain' 'treatment' 'diagnosis' and 'adolescents'. Published studies on restrictive EDs and CFAP from May 2008 to March 2023 were included. Ascribable to the overlap in etiology and symptom presentation, adolescents with chronic pain are significantly less likely to have their ED pathology promptly identified by providers compared to adolescents without comorbid chronic pain. This highlights the importance of the time sensitive and accurate identification of EDs in adolescents with CFAP. Overall, assessment methods are limited and EDs take longer to be identified in adolescents with comorbid CFAP. Future efforts should address diagnostic practices in pediatric settings and improve the communication among medical and mental health providers in order to promote the rapid and effective diagnosis and treatment of comorbid CFAP and EDs.

Augmenting family based treatment with emotion coaching for adolescents with anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa: Trial design and methodological report.

This article characterizes the design, recruitment, methodology, participant characteristics, and preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the Families Ending Eating Disorders (FEED) open pilot study. FEED augments family-based treatment (FBT) for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) with an emotion coaching (EC) group for parents (i.e., FBT + EC). We targeted families high in critical comments and low warmth (assessed by the Five-Minute Speech Sample), known predictors of poor response in FBT. Eligible participants included adolescents initiating outpatient FBT, diagnosed with AN/AAN, ages 12-17, with a parent high in critical comments/low in warmth. The first phase of the study was an open pilot which demonstrated feasibility and acceptability of FBT + EC. Thus, we proceeded with the small randomized controlled trial (RCT). Eligible families were randomized to either 10 weeks of FBT + EC parent group treatment or the 10- week parent support group (control condition). The primary outcomes were parent critical comments and parental warmth, while our exploratory outcome was adolescent weight restoration. Novel aspects of the trial design (e.g., specifically targeting typical treatment non-responders), as well as recruitment and retention challenges in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.

Higher admission and rapid readmission rates among medically hospitalized youth with anorexia nervosa/atypical anorexia nervosa during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had sweeping and deleterious effects on the well-being of individuals worldwide. Eating disorders (EDs) are no exception, with incidence and prevalence of EDs rising since COVID-19 onset. The current study examined inpatient census and readmission rates among youth (aged 8-18) hospitalized for medical complications of anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) throughout distinct periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, including pre-COVID-19 (n = 136), COVID-19 lockdown (n = 3), and post COVID-19 lockdown (n = 24). Data from the COVID-19 lockdown period was excluded from analyses due to low sample size. Youth hospitalized during post COVID-19 lockdown were over 8-times more likely to be readmitted within 30-days of discharge compared to patients hospitalized before the pandemic (p = .002). Further, the inpatient census of youth with AN/AAN was significantly higher during post COVID-19 lockdown compared to pre-COVID-19 (p = .04). One-third of patients hospitalized since the pandemic identified COVID-19 consequences as a primary correlate of their ED. Our findings, although not causal, suggest an association between COVID-19 and AN/AAN development and exacerbation in youth, thus prompting more medical admissions and rapid readmissions among this demographic. This study has important implications for understanding how AN/AAN onset and exacerbation in youth has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and can inform new efforts to support individuals navigating treatment during a global crisis.

The relationship of the UPPS model of impulsivity on bulimic symptoms and non-suicidal self-injury in transgender youth.

OBJECTIVE: This brief report examined the relationship of negative urgency (the tendency to act rashly in response to negative emotional states), (lack of) perseverance, (lack of) premeditation, and sensation seeking in association with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and symptoms of bulimia nervosa (BN) in a sample of treatment-seeking transgender (TG) youth. METHOD: Eighty-six TG youth with a mean age of 17 (sd = 3.2) agreed to participate in the study. The majority of our sample identified as TG male (n = 60) with 20 participants identifying as TG female and 6 identifying as non-binary. The racial ethnic breakdown of our sample was 8.2% Black, 8.2% Multi-racial, 1.2% Native American, and 82.4% White. Over » of our sample endorsed at least one episode of objective binge eating in the last 28 days and 62% endorsed a history of NSSI. RESULTS: Negative urgency was significantly associated with the odds of NSSI, objective binge eating, and general eating disorder symptoms. Lack of premeditation was significantly related to the odds of NSSI only. No other factors were significantly associated with NSSI or symptoms of BN. CONCLUSIONS: Negative urgency appears to be an important personality construct in understanding increased risk for NSSI and BN symptoms in transgender youth.

Disordered Eating Behaviors in Youth and Young Adults With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Receiving Insulin Therapy: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and its associations with glycemic control, insulin sensitivity (IS), and psychosocial functioning in a large, diverse cohort of youth and young adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study, 2,156 youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes (mean ± SD age 17.7 ± 4.3 years; 50.0% female) and 149 youth and young adults with type 2 diabetes (age 21.8 years ± 3.5; 64.4% female) who were receiving insulin therapy completed the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R), a self-reported measure for identifying disordered eating. DEB were defined as a DEPS-R score ≥20. Demographic characteristics, clinical measures, and health behaviors of participants with DEB and those without DEB were compared by using t tests. RESULTS: DEB were observed in 21.2% of participants with type 1 diabetes and 50.3% of participants with type 2 diabetes. Participants encountered challenges in maintaining a healthy weight while controlling their diabetes. For both types of diabetes, individuals with DEB had a significantly higher BMI z score, lower insulin sensitivity, more depressive symptoms, and poorer quality of life than those without DEB. Diabetic ketoacidosis episodes occurred more frequently in youth with type 1 diabetes with DEB compared to those without DEB. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight that DEB are prevalent among youth and young adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and who are receiving insulin therapy, and DEB are associated with poorer clinical outcomes and psychosocial well-being. Heightened awareness and early interventions are needed to address DEB for this at-risk population, as are longitudinal studies evaluating the course of DEB and diabetes outcomes.

Caregiver burden and illness perceptions in caregivers of medically hospitalized youth with anorexia nervosa.

Caregiver burden is common in caregivers of youth with anorexia nervosa (AN) and could impede the successful implementation of family-based therapy (FBT). Thus, it is important to better understand mechanisms by which caregiver burden is developed and maintained. This study aimed to examine the relation between caregiver illness perceptions about AN, symptom severity indicators, and caregiver burden in a sample of medically hospitalized youth with AN. Fifty-one youth with AN (N = 34) or Atypical AN (AAN; N = 17; mean age = 14.85, SD = 1.41; 76% female) and their primary caregivers (N = 47 mothers and N = 4 fathers) completed self-report questionnaires at hospital admission. Collected data included caregiver and youth illness perceptions about AN, caregiver burden, and youth self-reports of psychological symptoms. Physiological data regarding symptom severity included admitting percent of expected body weight (%EBW) and minimum heart rate during admission. Findings indicated that caregiver beliefs about negative consequences of AN were associated with caregiver burden, independent of youth age, sex, illness duration, and diagnosis. Youth reports of symptom severity, %EBW, and low heart rate were not associated with increased caregiver burden. Findings suggest that the subjective experience of having a youth with AN are a greater determinant of caregiver burden than objective indicators of illness severity. Further, these findings provide support for the FBT clinician to strike a balance between providing information about the potential consequences of AN, while instilling hope for recovery and bolstering parent self-efficacy.