Promoting Resilience to Improve Disordered Eating (PRIDE): A case series of an eating disorder treatment for sexual minority individuals.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the increased risk for eating disorders (EDs) among sexual minority (SM) individuals, no ED treatments exist specifically for this population. SM stress and appearance-based pressures may initiate and/or maintain ED symptoms in SM individuals; thus, incorporating strategies to reduce SM stressors into existing treatments may help address SM individuals' increased ED risk. This mixed-methods study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Promoting Resilience to Improve Disordered Eating (PRIDE)-a novel ED treatment for SM individuals. METHODS: N = 14 SM individuals with an ED diagnosis received 14 weekly sessions integrating Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for EDs (CBT-E) with techniques and principles of SM-affirmative CBT developed to address SM stressors. Participants completed qualitative interviews and assessments of ED symptoms and SM stress reactions at baseline (pretreatment), posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Supporting feasibility, 12 of the 14 (85.7%) enrolled participants completed treatment, and qualitative and quantitative data supported PRIDE's acceptability (quantitative rating = 3.73/4). By 1-month follow-up, 75% of the sample was fully remitted from an ED diagnosis. Preliminary efficacy results suggested large and significant improvements in ED symptoms, clinical impairment, and body dissatisfaction, significant medium-large improvements in internalized stigma and nonsignificant small-medium effects of sexual orientation concealment. DISCUSSION: Initial results support the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of PRIDE, an ED treatment developed to address SM stressors. Future research should evaluate PRIDE in a larger sample, compare it to an active control condition, and explore whether reductions in SM stress reactions explain reductions in ED symptoms. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study evaluated a treatment for SM individuals with EDs that integrated empirically supported ED treatment with SM-affirmative treatment in a case series. Results support that this treatment was well-accepted by participants and was associated with improvements in ED symptoms and minority stress outcomes.

A longitudinal study of potentially traumatic events and binge-purge eating disorder onset in children.

Although the association between childhood trauma and subsequent binge-purge spectrum eating disorders (BP-EDs) is established in adult samples, little is known about the temporal association between potentially traumatic life events and BP-ED onset in children. Using longitudinal data from the U.S.-nationwide Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study with children aged 9-10 at baseline, logistic regression with complex sampling assessed the longitudinal association of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) at baseline and meeting BP-ED criteria one year later. Children exposed to PTEs prior to baseline had 1.91 times greater odds of being diagnosed with a BP-ED one year later (95% CI: 1.26 - 2.90; p = .004), compared to those who had not experienced a PTE. The current study extends previous cross-sectional research to show a significant temporal association between childhood PTEs before ages 9-10 and the subsequent onset of BP-EDs one year later. Future research should consider specific timing of PTE exposure as well as examining children diagnosed with restrictive eating disorders.

Posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic events, and longitudinal eating disorder treatment outcomes: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Many individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder (ED) have been exposed to traumatic events, and some of these individuals are diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although theorized by researchers and clinicians, it is unclear whether traumatic event exposure or PTSD interferes with outcomes from ED treatment. The objective of the current study was to systematically review the literature on traumatic events and/or PTSD as either predictors or moderators of psychological treatment outcomes in EDs. METHOD: A PRISMA search was conducted to identify studies that assessed the longitudinal association between traumatic events or PTSD and ED outcomes. Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria for review. RESULTS: Results indicated that traumatic event exposure was associated with greater ED treatment dropout, but individuals with a traumatic event history benefited from treatment similarly to their unexposed peers. Findings also indicated that traumatic events may be associated with greater symptom relapse posttreatment. DISCUSSION: Given the limited number of studies examining PTSD, results are considered very tentative; however, similar to studies comparing trauma-exposed and nontrauma-exposed participants, individuals with PTSD may have similar treatment gains compared to individuals without PTSD, but individuals with PTSD may experience greater symptom relapse posttreatment. Future researchers are encouraged to examine whether trauma-informed care or integrated treatment for EDs and PTSD mitigates dropout from treatment and improves symptom remission outcomes. Furthermore, researchers are encouraged to examine how the developmental timing of traumatic events, self-perceived impact of trauma, and cumulative trauma exposure may be associated with differential ED treatment outcomes. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Eating disorders (EDs), trauma, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co-occur. Individuals with traumatic event exposure and/or PTSD demonstrate greater ED symptoms; it is unclear whether these individuals benefit similarly in ED treatment to their peers. The current study found that individuals with traumatic event exposure are more likely to drop out of treatment but benefit from treatment with similar symptom remission. Traumatic history was associated with greater relapse posttreatment.

Muchas personas diagnosticadas con un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria han experimentado eventos traumáticos y algunas de estas personas son diagnosticadas con trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT). Aunque los investigadores y los clínicos teorizan, no está claro si la exposición traumática o el TEPT interfieren con los resultados del tratamiento del trastorno de la conducta alimentaria. El objetivo del presente estudio fue revisar sistemáticamente la literatura sobre experiencias traumáticas y / o TEPT como predictores o moderadores de los resultados del tratamiento psicológico en los trastornos alimentarios. Se realizó una búsqueda en PRISMA para identificar estudios que evaluaran la asociación longitudinal entre el trauma o el TEPT y los resultados del trastorno alimentario. Dieciocho artículos cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión para la revisión. Los resultados indicaron que la exposición al trauma infantil se asoció con un mayor abandono del tratamiento, pero las personas con antecedentes de trauma infantil se beneficiaron del tratamiento de manera similar a sus compañeros no expuestos. Los hallazgos también indicaron que el trauma infantil puede estar asociado con una mayor recaída de los síntomas después del tratamiento. Debido al número limitado de estudios que examinan el TEPT, los resultados son provisionales; sin embargo, hay algunas pruebas de que los individuos con TEPT también muestran un patrón similar, de modo que las ganancias son equivalentes a las de los compañeros no diagnosticados en el tratamiento, pero pueden divergir para experimentar una mayor recaída de los síntomas después del tratamiento. Se alienta a los futuros investigadores a examinar si la atención informada sobre el trauma o el tratamiento integrado para los trastornos alimentarios y el TEPT mitiga el abandono del tratamiento y mejora los resultados de remisión de los síntomas. Además, se alienta a los investigadores a examinar cómo el momento del desarrollo del trauma, el impacto autopercibido del trauma y la exposición acumulativa al trauma pueden estar asociados con los resultados diferenciales del tratamiento del trastorno de la conducta alimentaria.

Psychiatric comorbidity of eating disorders in children between the ages of 9 and 10.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders exhibit high comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, most notably mood, substance use, and anxiety disorders. However, most studies examining psychiatric comorbidity are conducted in adolescents and adults. Therefore, the comorbidity among children living with eating disorders is unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize co-occurring psychiatric disorders with eating disorders in a US sample of children aged 9-10 years old utilizing the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. METHODS: The analytic sample included 11,718 children aged 9-10 years. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other specified feeding and eating disorder subtype diagnoses were examined. Statistical analyses were conducted using complex sampling. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated comparing the likelihood of being diagnosed for a psychiatric disorder when having an eating disorder, as compared to children without an eating disorder, children diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and children diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Co-occurring psychiatric disorders were substantially higher in children with eating disorders as compared to children without eating disorders, but not as compared to children diagnosed with major depressive disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder. The most common comorbidities for the eating disorder group were anxiety disorders (71.4%), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (47.9%), disruptive/impulse control disorders (45.0%), mood disorders (29.6%), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (28.8%), largely in line with previous research. CONCLUSIONS: This study extends prior research finding high rates of comorbidity in eating disorders, specifically with anxiety, mood, and disruptive/impulse control disorders. Clinicians assessing for psychiatric disorders should be aware that eating disorders can occur in children 9 and 10 years old and are associated with severe comorbidity. Referrals for specialty mental health care should be considered.

Trauma exposure and eating disorders: Results from a United States nationally representative sample.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual assault, child abuse, and combat have been linked to eating disorders (EDs). However, noninterpersonal trauma is relatively understudied, and therefore it is unknown whether noninterpersonal trauma is associated with EDs. Furthermore, most previous studies do not account for multiple trauma exposures, or the relative association of traumatic events with EDs in the same statistical model. METHOD: Multinomial regression was used to examine the association of lifetime ED diagnosis (anorexia nervosa [AN], bulimia nervosa [BN], binge eating disorder [BED]) with trauma type (sexual interpersonal, other interpersonal, war/combat, and noninterpersonal) in a nationally representative dataset of US adults in bivariate and multivariable (i.e., with all trauma types) models. RESULTS: Sexual interpersonal trauma was significantly positively associated with AN and BED in bivariate and multivariable models. In the multivariable model, only BED was found to be equally associated with sexual interpersonal, other interpersonal, and noninterpersonal trauma. DISCUSSION: These results indicate a strong positive association between sexual trauma and EDs, even when controlling for experiences of other trauma events. Future research should examine longitudinal mediators between trauma and EDs, especially sexual trauma, to identify what factors may explain this relationship. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Individuals with eating disorders often experience traumatic events but it is unclear whether specific trauma types are more or less common in this population. This study found that only events such as rape and sexual assault are associated with anorexia nervosa, but that most trauma types are associated with binge eating disorder. Therefore, the relationship between trauma and binge eating disorder may function differently than other eating disorders.

Internalization of muscularity and thinness ideals: Associations with body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and muscle dysmorphic symptoms in at risk sexual minority men.

OBJECTIVE: In the tripartite influence model, appearance-ideal internalization is identified as a prominent risk factor for the development of body dissatisfaction and subsequent eating disorder (ED) behaviors. For men, prior research has emphasized the importance of both thin-ideal internalization and muscular-ideal internalization in explaining later ED behaviors and muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms. Previous research in heterosexual men has shown that the associations between muscular-ideal internalization and ED or MD symptoms may depend on whether the individual has also internalized the thin ideal. However, this interaction has not been examined in research with sexual minority men (SMM). METHOD: The current study collected self-report data from 452 at risk SMM (i.e., endorsed body dissatisfaction), with ages ranging from 18 to 35 years. Linear regression models were conducted to test the interaction effects between thinness and muscularity internalization on ED symptoms, MD behaviors, and general body dissatisfaction. Simple slopes and the Johnson-Neyman technique were used to investigate significant interaction terms. RESULTS: Thin- and muscular-ideal internalization were positively associated with muscular appearance intolerance and dietary restriction with no significant interaction. Muscular drive for size was highest when both muscularity internalization and thinness internalization were high. Muscular-ideal internalization was positively associated with both cognitive restraint and general body dissatisfaction, but only at lower levels of thinness internalization. DISCUSSION: Given the interacting association between thinness and muscularity internalization and aspects of body dissatisfaction, attitudes, and behavior, prevention and intervention programs for EDs and MDs in SMM should seek to dismantle both thinness and muscularity internalization. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Internalizing-or adopting as one's own-the ideal of a body with low body fat and high muscularity has been shown to lead to muscle dysmorphia and eating disorder symptoms in men. The current study examines whether the combination of thin-ideal and muscular-ideal internalization is associated with worse symptoms than either facet alone in sexual minority men. Treatment efforts in sexual minority men should address both types of internalization.

Integrating evidence-based PTSD treatment into intensive eating disorders treatment: a preliminary investigation.

PURPOSE: Given data suggesting common co-occurrence and worse outcomes for individuals with eating disorders (EDs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it is critical to identify integrated treatment approaches for this group of patients. Past work has explored the feasibility and initial efficacy of intervention approaches that draw on evidence-based treatments for both EDs and PTSD; however, this work remains limited in scope. In the current study, we explored the feasibility and naturalistic outcomes of PTSD treatment delivered within the context of intensive ED treatment. METHOD: Participants were 57 adult men and women with DSM-5 EDs and comorbid PTSD who completed a course of either Prolonged Exposure (PE; n = 22) or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT; n = 35) (Msessions = 10.40; SD = 5.13) and weekly validated measurements of clinical symptoms while enrolled in ED programming. RESULTS: Multi-level models for PTSD symptoms indicated a significant linear effect of time, such that participants demonstrated significant decreases over time in PTSD symptoms, regardless of treatment modality. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary investigation provides support for the feasibility and efficacy of an integrated approach to treating EDs and PTSD. It is critical for future work to undertake randomized tests of this integrated approach using large, heterogeneous samples. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, multiple time series with intervention.

Weight-Related Information Avoidance Prospectively Predicts Poorer Self-Monitoring and Engagement in a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Self-monitoring is a key component of behavioral weight loss (BWL) interventions. Past research suggests that individuals may avoid self-monitoring in certain contexts (e.g., skipping self-weighing after higher-than-usual calorie intake). However, no studies have attempted to quantify individuals' inclination to avoid information about their weight control ("weight-related information avoidance"; WIA) or prospectively examined its implications for treatment engagement and outcomes in BWL programs. PURPOSE: Characterize WIA using a validated questionnaire among adults enrolled in BWL treatment and examine whether WIA prospectively predicts self-monitoring adherence, session attendance, treatment discontinuation, or weight loss. METHODS: Participants (N = 87; MBMI = 34.9 kg/m2, 83% female) completed a measure of WIA prior to starting a 12 week, group-based BWL intervention. Participants were given digital self-monitoring tools and instructed to self-monitor their food intake daily, physical activity daily, and body weight weekly (Weeks 1-10) and then daily (Weeks 11-12). Session attendance and treatment discontinuation were recorded. Weight was measured in-clinic pretreatment and posttreatment. RESULTS: While mean WIA was low (M = 2.23, standard deviation [SD] = 0.95; potential scale range: 1-7), greater WIA predicted poorer attendance (r = -.23; p = .03) and poorer self-monitoring of physical activity (r = -.28; p = .009) and body weight (r = -.32; p = .003). WIA did not predict food monitoring (p = .08), treatment discontinuation (p = .09), or 12 week weight loss (p = .91). CONCLUSIONS: Greater WIA, as assessed via a brief questionnaire, may place individuals at risk for poorer self-monitoring and treatment engagement during BWL. Further research on the implications of WIA in the context of weight management is warranted, including evaluation of correlates, moderators, and mechanisms of action of WIA. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03337139.

Confirmatory factor and measurement invariance analyses of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in sexual minority men and women.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the factor structure of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in a large sample of cisgender sexual minority men and women, and subsequently, to evaluate measurement invariance by gender. METHOD: The sample consisted of 962 sexual minority adult men (n = 479) and women (n = 483) who completed online self-report surveys. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using two previously supported factor structures (Friborg et al.'s four-factor model and Grilo et al.'s brief three-factor model) as well as the original four-factor structure of the EDE-Q. RESULTS: Results indicated that the best fitting models were Friborg et al.'s four-factor model (CFI = .974, RMSEA = .098, SRMR = .0 70) and Grilo et al.'s brief three-factor model (CFI = .999, RMSEA = .049, SRMR = .017). The model fit of both factor structures were nearly identical when examined separately for men and women. The original four-factor structure could not be supported in this sample. Measurement invariance analyses further indicated that the best fitting models were invariant by gender in sexual minority individuals. Internal consistency was adequate for all subscales of Friborg et al.'s and Grilo et al.'s models. DISCUSSION: The present study provides support for the use of the EDE-Q in sexual minority men and women. Additionally, findings demonstrate that the EDE-Q performs similarly in sexual minority men and women. Future research is needed to further evaluate measurement invariance of the EDE-Q by sexual orientation, gender identity, and race.

Integrating minority stress theory and the tripartite influence model: A model of eating disordered behavior in sexual minority young adults.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses associated with high mortality rates and health complications. Prior research has found increased rates of eating pathology in sexual minority (SM; e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual) individuals compared to sexual majority (i.e., heterosexual) individuals. Two prominent models have potential to explain these differences: the tripartite influence model and minority stress theory. While both models separately have promise for explaining the pathway of eating disordered behavior in SM individuals, research has indicated that both models have unexplained variance. Therefore, a comprehensive, integrative model could further explain unique variance. 479 men and 483 women between 18 and 30 years old were recruited through Qualtrics; all participants endorsed attraction to same-gender partners. Two models were estimated by gender using structural equation modeling. For men and women, community involvement accelerated the positive association of heterosexist discrimination with internalized homophobia. Minority stressors were associated with dissatisfaction and muscularity behavior, indicating the importance of incorporating minority stress. For women, community involvement accelerated both the association of pressures with muscularity internalization and the association of muscularity-based dissatisfaction with muscle building behaviors. If confirmed by prospective studies, this model could help refine prevention and intervention efforts with this vulnerable population.