A new network analysis model in anorexia nervosa patients based on self-reported eating disorder symptoms, psychological distress, and cognitive flexibility.
Br J Clin Psychol
; 63(1): 118-134, 2024 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38071465
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Cognitive flexibility and psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, have been implicated in the aetiology of Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Despite the known associations between eating disorder (ED) symptoms, depression, anxiety, and cognitive flexibility, the specific pathways that connect these constructs are unclear. We therefore used network analysis to examine the relationship between these symptoms in an AN sample.METHODS:
One hundred and ninety-three treatment-seeking individuals diagnosed with AN (95.6% female, M = 26.89 [SD = 9.45] years old) completed self-report measures assessing depression, anxiety, cognitive flexibility, and ED symptoms. To determine each symptom's influence in the network, we calculated the expected influence.RESULTS:
The two relationships with the greatest edges were those between (1) weight/shape concerns and eating/dietary restraint and (2) weight/shape concerns and psychological distress (a measure that combined depression and anxiety). Cognitive flexibility was not connected to weight/shape concerns but had negative partial associations with eating concerns/dietary restraint and psychological distress. There was also a slight, non-zero connection between eating concerns/dietary restraint and psychological distress.CONCLUSIONS:
The findings underscore the importance of weight/shape, eating/dietary concerns, and psychological distress in the AN network and suggest that addressing cognitive flexibility may be a useful target for eating concerns/dietary restraint and psychological distress. Future studies assessing the longitudinal course of psychopathology within the AN network structure may help in identifying whether specific symptoms function as risk factors or maintaining factors for this co-occurrence.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Anorexia Nervosa
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Transtornos da Alimentação e da Ingestão de Alimentos
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Angústia Psicológica
Limite:
Child
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Br J Clin Psychol
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Austrália