Narrative review of inpatient nutritional management of anorexia nervosa with management recommendations for Australian tertiary health services.

BACKGROUND: Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) may experience life-threatening malnutrition-related complications requiring inpatient medical stabilisation. Several management guidelines have been developed but discrepancies exist because of limited high-level evidence. AIMS: To review the evidence base for recommendations contained in Victorian health services guidelines for the nutritional management of inpatients with AN. METHODS: MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for published studies on the nutritional management of inpatients with AN, combined with a manual search through citations. Studies including patients with AN aged 16 years and older were included. Case reports, small case series of <10 patients, studies of nonmedical management and studies with an exclusive paediatric population were excluded. The search results were compared with AN inpatient medical management guidelines sourced from large tertiary health services across Victoria, Australia. RESULTS: The search yielded 584 studies, subsequently reduced to nine studies using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results suggest that commencing refeeding at a higher caloric value allows faster weight gain and shorter hospitalisation. Enteral tube feeding is preferential to parenteral nutrition because of infrequent and milder complications. Zinc supplementation showed a doubled rate of body mass index increase compared with placebo. Comparison with Victorian health services guidelines revealed inconsistent recommendations for high-calorie refeeding and micronutrient supplementation. CONCLUSION: The evidence supports high-calorie refeeding of 2000 kcal/day in AN inpatient medical management and zinc supplementation in improving the rate of weight restoration. This is inconsistently reflected in different Victorian health services guidelines. Updated national consensus guidelines could assist in improving consistency of evidence-based health care.

Issues around food in mixed families of adolescent girls with bulimia nervosa: A qualitative study with photo-elicitation.

OBJECTIVES: Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a common psychiatric disorder among adolescent girls with potentially significant complications. Family relationships play a major role in the development and progression of this disorder. Studies in migrant populations suffering from eating disorders show contrasting results depending on the generation of migrants: first generation migrants have fewer eating disorders than the native population, while the prevalence of this disorder is more important than the latter among second and third generation migrants. In our clinical experience, we have frequently encountered so-called "mixed" families, which are families composed of one migrant parent and one non-migrant parent. Research focusing on this kind of family is scarce which is why we chose to explore their dynamic. METHODS: This study explored the issues around food and family relationships of adolescent girls suffering from BN, a topic that, to date, has not yet been studied. Ten interviews were conducted with five adolescent girls with BN between the ages of 16 and 20 and their parents, using photo-elicitation to enrich the collected data. RESULTS: The results were organized around two axes: (1) identity issues around food, that is the assimilation process described by both parents and adolescents concerning family meals and food habits, and how the adolescents struggle to manage this interbreeding; and (2) transmission issues with the consequences the migrant parent has to deal with to transmit his/her cultural identity with food while being far away from the homeland, and the difficulties between this parent and his/her child to share this heritage. Both issues, identity and transmission, appear to be central among these families. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a difficulty in mentalizing identity issues in adolescent girls; the function of appeasement around non-mentalized tensions was highlighted. In our opinion, in this particular context, BN acts as a means of expressing the difficulty of their mixed culture. This enables it to draw some clinical implications, especially using mentalization-based therapy which has already shown efficacy in adolescents with borderline personality disorder and ED.

Comment on Keeler et al. Ketamine as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review. Nutrients 2021, 13, 4158.

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) represents a difficult therapeutic challenge, with up to 4% prevalence among females and increasing incidence among youth [...].

[Comorbid major depressive disorder of anorexia nervosa in adolescence: A scoping review of treatment strategies]. / Scoping review des stratégies de prise en charge du trouble dépressif caractérisé comorbide d'une anorexie mentale à l'adolescence.

OBJECTIVES: Psychiatric comorbidities are frequent in anorexia nervosa, with the highest rate of suicidal lethality among psychiatric disorders. Major depressive disorder is one of the most life-threatening comorbidities of anorexia nervosa, exacerbating the risk of suicide, aphagia, and pervasive refusal syndrome. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of studies exploring strategies for the treatment of severe depression in the acute phase of anorexia nervosa in adolescence. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the publications dealing with the treatment of depressive comorbidities in adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa published between 2005 and 2019. An electronic search in Pubmed and Medline for relevant studies used the following keywords adolescent, youth, anorexia nervosa, depress*, suicide*, "melancholic depression", treat*, therapy*, care. Included studies were dealing with 10-18-year-old inpatient or outpatient adolescents presenting an anorexia nervosa complicated by a major depressive disorder. RESULTS: Of 562 studies identified, eight were included in the final sample. Regarding psychiatric treatments, four studies concerned the prescription of antidepressants, one case-study was described a treatment by electroconvulsive therapy and another was dealt with light therapy. Finally, the two last studies evaluated the effect of nutritional treatment on psychiatric symptoms but found no significant direct association between weight gain and improvement of depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION: There is a need to identify faster severe depressive disorders in adolescents with anorexia nervosa in order to provide, along with refeeding, a more intensive treatment of mood symptoms. A multidisciplinary and coordinated approach must be initiated at the beginning of the trouble. There is a need for more systematic studies on the therapeutic approaches of mood disorder comorbidities in adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa.

Diets with high carbohydrate contents were associated with refeeding hypophosphatemia: A retrospective study in Japanese inpatients with anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Refeeding hypophosphatemia (RH) is a potentially fatal complication in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), and its dietary preventive strategy is not well established. We aimed to examine the association between carbohydrate content in the diet and the occurrence of RH in inpatients with AN via retrospective medical chart review. METHOD: We performed a chart review to collect data of patients with AN hospitalized at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine of the University of Tokyo Hospital between April 1, 2012, and February 29, 2020. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the cutoff point of the percentage of carbohydrate content in the diet for the occurrence of RH. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with occurrence of RH as the dependent variable and the carbohydrate content of more than the identified cutoff point as the independent variable adjusting for the risk factors for RH. RESULTS: The percentage of carbohydrate content that is higher than the cutoff point obtained from the ROC analysis (58.4%) was significantly associated with the occurrence of RH, even after adjusting for variables associated with RH in univariate logistic regression analysis (age and body mass index) as well as the average daily calorie intake (odds ratio, 5.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.60-18.1; p = .0066). DISCUSSION: We identified that diets with higher carbohydrate contents were associated with RH in inpatients with AN, even after adjusting for known risk factors. Our findings may promote the development of dietary preventive strategies against RH in inpatients with AN.

[Attachment, mentalization and autonomy in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa]. / Gehechtheid, mentaliseren en autonomie bij anorexia nervosa en bulimia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Attachment insecurity and difficulty with mentalization are common in patients with eating disorders and might be related to their symptoms and lack of autonomy.
AIM: To investigate the role of attachment and mentalization in the course of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN).
METHOD: Patients with AN and BN were assessed at the start of treatment, and after 1 year and 1.5 years concerning attachment security and mentalization in relation to eating disorder and co-morbid symptoms and autonomy. The results at the start of treatment were compared to those of controls without an eating disorder.
RESULTS: Attachment insecurity and low level of mentalization were more prevalent in patients than in controls, and associated with borderline personality disorder and/or self-injurious behaviour. Attachment security increased after 1 year of treatment. Recovery from eating disorder after 1 year was related to higher level of mentalization and improvement of autonomy. Low pre-treatment level of mentalization predicted persistence of eating disorder until 1.5 years of follow-up.
CONCLUSION: Good mentalization is associated with recovery from eating disorder. More research on the effect of mentalization based treatment for patients with eating disorders, with or without borderline personality disorder, is recommended.

[Consensus document about the nutritional evaluation and management of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa]. / Consenso sobre la evaluación y el tratamiento nutricional de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria: anorexia nerviosa.

Anorexia nervosa is the most common psychiatric disease among young women and it is assumed to be of multifactorial origin. Diagnostic criteria have recently been modified; therefore amenorrhea has ceased to be a part of them. This disease shows a large variability in its presentation and severity which conditions different therapeutic approaches and the need to individualize the treatment, thus it is indispensable a multidisciplinary approach. The goals are to restore nutritional status (through an individualized diet plan based on a healthy consumption pattern), treat complications and comorbidities, nutritional education (based on healthy eating and nutritional patterns), correction of compensatory behaviors and relapse prevention. The treatment will vary according to the patient's clinical situation, and it may be performed in outpatient clinics (when there is clinical stability), in a day hospital or ambulatory clinic (intermediate mode between traditional outpatient treatment and hospitalization) or hospitalization (when there is outpatient management failure or presence of serious medical or psychiatric complications). Artificial nutrition using oral nutritional supplements, enteral nutrition and exceptionally parenteral nutrition may be necessary in certain clinical settings. In severely malnourished patients the refeeding syndrome should be avoided. Anorexia nervosa is associated with numerous medical complications which determines health status, life quality, and is closely related to mortality. There is little clinical evidence to assess the results of different treatments in anorexia nervosa, when most of the recommendations are being based on expert consensus.

Gastrointestinal complications and refeeding guidelines in patients with anorexia nervosa. / Powiklania gastroenterologiczne i zasady realimentacji pacjentów z jadlowstretem psychicznym.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is the third most common disorder, after obesity and asthma, in the population of adolescents between 13-18 years of age. Food intake reduction is associated with whole body dysfunction, affecting its physical, psychological and social spheres. As a result of starvation, dysfunction develops in virtually all systems and organs. However, most frequently patients with AN complain of digestive symptoms, such as a feeling of fullness after meals, pain in the upper abdomen, dysphagia, nausea, bloating and constipation. They can have mild functional character, but may also reflect serious complications, including diseases requiring urgent surgical intervention. In addition, gastric complaints may hinder nutritional management of AN. Care of AN patients requires cooperation of many specialists in the field of psychiatry, psychology, paediatrics, internal medicine and nutrition. However, it is often difficult to organize such a team. Therefore, we decided to approach the issues of gastrointestinal symptoms and complications in the course of AN, and the rules of nutritional therapy.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la anorexia nerviosa resistente al tratamiento médico / Surgical treatment of medication-resistant anorexia nervosa

Gracias a los avances en técnicas neuroquirúrgicas, y debido a que el diagnóstico y la clasificación de las enfermedades psiquiátricas han evolucionado significativamente a lo largo de las últimas décadas, se están desarrollando tratamientos a nivel experimental para aquellos pacientes resistentes al manejo conservador. La anorexia nerviosa es una enfermedad de prevalencia creciente, con la tasa de mortalidad más elevada dentro de los trastornos psiquiátricos, y con aproximadamente un 20% de pacientes que presentan una evolución tórpida. Para estos pacientes que no responden a manejo conservador, la estimulación cerebral profunda ha surgido como una alternativa terapéutica, si bien la literatura especializada al respecto es escasa. A continuación presentamos una revisión de la fisiopatología de la anorexia nerviosa, así como de los distintos tratamientos neuroquirúrgicos realizados a lo largo de la historia. Se detalla la perspectiva de tratamiento quirúrgico actual, así como los aspectos éticos que se han de considerar en relación con el surgimiento de estas nuevas terapias (AU)

Given the advances experienced in neurosurgical techniques, and because the diagnosis and classifi cation of psychiatric diseases has evolved over the past decades, new experimental treatments are arising to treat a greater number of medication-resistant psychiatric patients. Among psychiatric diseases, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate, and approximately 20% of patients experience torpid outcomes. For these patients who do not respond to conservative management, deep brain stimulation has arisen as an alternative option, although studies are still scarce. We review the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa, as well as the various neurosurgical treatments that have been performed throughout history. The prospect of current surgical treatments is detailed, as well as the ethical aspects to consider regarding the emergence of these new therapies (AU)

[EATING DISORDERS IN PEDIATRIC AGE: A BOOM PATHOLOGY]. / TRASTORNOS DE LA CONDUCTA ALIMENTARIA EN LA EDAD PEDIÁTRICA: UNA PATOLOGÍA EN AUGE.

AIMS: to determine the characteristics of pediatric patients suffering from eating disorders that were hospitalized at Hospital Universitario de Canarias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a retrospective study in a cohort of pediatric patients diagnosed with eating disorders and admitted in our area was developed during the last seven years. RESULTS: out of 35 patients in our study, 85.7 % were women, onset average age 13.5. 77.1% of the cases were diagnosed as anorexia nervosa- restrictive type. The most frequent analytical alterations, detected when patients were in hospital, consisted in a drop in plasma levels in retinol binding protein (RBP)- in 57.6% of the cases- and D hypovitaminosis- in 46.9 % of them: the use of high - calories supplements was required in 71.4% of patients during hospitalization. The average weight gain was higher when the body mass index (BMI) was smaller at patient's admission to hospital (p = 0,006). Conclussions: eating disorders are increasing in pediatric age: puberty is a special vulnerable period for its development, as well as medical complications secondary to malnutrition. Admission to hospital is an essential tool for handling many cases; taking the necessary monitoring leading to a weight increase, preventing complications in nutritional support and tackling the underlying psychopathology. Diagnosis and a precocious treatment are crucial to avoid an excessive weight loss and more complications.

Objetivos: determinar las características de los pacientes en edad pediátrica afectados de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria que requirieron ingreso en el Servicio de Pediatría del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias (CHUC). Material y método: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes pediátricos diagnosticados de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria e ingresados en planta de hospitalización pediátrica durante los últimos siete años. Resultados: de los 35 pacientes de la muestra, un 85,7% fueron mujeres, con una edad media al debut de 13,5 años. En el 77,1% de los casos el diagnóstico principal fue el de anorexia nerviosa de tipo restrictivo. Las alteraciones analíticas más frecuentes detectadas en el momento del ingreso consistieron en descenso de los niveles plasmáticos de proteína fijadora del retinol (RBP), presente en el 57,6% de los casos, e hipovitaminosis D, que en esta muestra estaba presente en el 46,9% de los casos. Se requirió el uso de suplementos hipercalóricos en el 71,4% de los pacientes durante la hospitalización. La ganancia ponderal media durante la estancia fue mayor cuanto menor era el índice de masa corporal (IMC) al ingreso (p = 0,006). Conclusiones: los TCA son enfermedades con incidencia creciente en la edad pediátrica. La pubertad constituye un momento de especial vulnerabilidad para el desarrollo de los TCA (así como de complicaciones médicas secundarias a la desnutrición). En muchos casos el ingreso hospitalario constituye una herramienta necesaria para un correcto manejo, instaurándose las medidas de control necesarias para la recuperación ponderal, la prevención de complicaciones del soporte nutricional y el abordaje de la psicopatología subyacente. El diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz resultan cruciales para evitar una excesiva pérdida ponderal y mayor incidencia de complicaciones.

Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en la edad pediátrica: una patología en auge / Eating disorders in pediatric age: a boom pathology

Objetivos: determinar las características de los pacientes en edad pediátrica afectados de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria que requirieron ingreso en el Servicio de Pediatría del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias (CHUC). Material y método: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes pediátricos diagnosticados de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria e ingresados en planta de hospitalización pediátrica durante los últimos siete años. Resultados: de los 35 pacientes de la muestra, un 85,7% fueron mujeres, con una edad media al debut de 13,5 años. En el 77,1% de los casos el diagnóstico principal fue el de anorexia nerviosa de tipo restrictivo. Las alteraciones analíticas más frecuentes detectadas en el momento del ingreso consistieron en descenso de los niveles plasmáticos de proteína fijadora del retinol (RBP), presente en el 57,6% de los casos, e hipovitaminosis D, que en esta muestra estaba presente en el 46,9% de los casos. Se requirió el uso de suplementos hipercalóricos en el 71,4% de los pacientes durante la hospitalización. La ganancia ponderal media durante la estancia fue mayor cuanto menor era el índice de masa corporal (IMC) al ingreso (p = 0,006). Conclusiones: los TCA son enfermedades con incidencia creciente en la edad pediátrica. La pubertad constituye un momento de especial vulnerabilidad para el desarrollo de los TCA (así como de complicaciones médicas secundarias a la desnutrición). En muchos casos el ingreso hospitalario constituye una herramienta necesaria para un correcto manejo, instaurándose las medidas de control necesarias para la recuperación ponderal, la prevención de complicaciones del soporte nutricional y el abordaje de la psicopatología subyacente. El diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz resultan cruciales para evitar una excesiva pérdida ponderal y mayor incidencia de complicaciones (AU)

Aims: to determine the characteristics of pediatric patients suffering from eating disorders that were hospitalized at Hospital Universitario de Canarias. Materials and methods: a retrospective study in a cohort of pediatric patients diagnosed with eating disorders and admitted in our area was developed during the last seven years. Results: out of 35 patients in our study, 85.7 % were women, onset average age 13.5. 77.1% of the cases were diagnosed as anorexia nervosa- restrictive type. The most frequent analytical alterations, detected when patients were in hospital, consisted in a drop in plasma levels in retinol binding protein (RBP)- in 57.6% of the cases- and D hypovitaminosis- in 46.9 % of them: the use of high - calories supplements was required in 71.4% of patients during hospitalization. The average weight gain was higher when the body mass index (BMI) was smaller at patient's admission to hospital (p = 0,006). Conclussions: eating disorders are increasing in pediatric age: puberty is a special vulnerable period for its development, as well as medical complications secondary to malnutrition. Admission to hospital is an essential tool for handling many cases; taking the necessary monitoring leading to a weight increase, preventing complications in nutritional support and tackling the underlying psychopathology. Diagnosis and a precocious treatment are crucial to avoid an excessive weight loss and more complications (AU)

Home parenteral nutrition therapy in seven patients with anorexia nervosa: the role and indications.

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a well-established intervention to sustain life in malnourished patients at home. Because it is difficult for patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) to gain weight or stop purging, such patients require repeated hospitalizations. Although HPN has not been commonly used for AN patients in Japan, we utilized this approach to treat seven AN patients. We herein present the clinical course and outcome of these seven patients, the application criteria for HPN in our institution, and the potential problems associated with HPN. Despite its complications, HPN may be a useful measure to help patients with persistent AN avoid multiple hospitalizations.

[Anorexia nervosa: bioelectrical impedance analysis in body composition measurement during hospitalization]. / Anorexie mentale: etude de la composition corporelle mesurée par impédancemétrie en cours d'hospitalisation.

Monitoring parameters for anorexia nervosa include clinical, biological and psychological factors. Many research groups are currently trying to identify parameters more likely to predict the severity or the evolution of the illness. Body composition has been proposed as one of those parameters. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate that measures of body composition are more accurate and efficient than the use of body composition index (BMI). We also aim to show that body composition could be used as a prognostic factor in the long-term evolution of patients with anorexia nervosa. It's a retrospective study investigating body composition and BMI in 44 patients treated in a specialized unit for eating disorder. Measures of body composition and BMI were gathered at the time of admission and again 3 months after refeeding onset. Data was correlated to the EDI-2 questionnaire scores. BMI and %FM where found to be increased (P < 0.05) between admission and after 3 months refeeding. The double objective of reaching a BMI value > or = 20 kg/m2 and a %FM value > or = 2% was achieved by 22% of patients. No significant correlation was found between EDI-2 scores and measures of BMI and %FM either on admission or after the 3 months refeeding period. In conclusion, results of our study don't allow concluding for a prognostic superiority of %FM. Nonetheless, BMI currently used as a reference for the monitoring of eating disorders patients seems to lack sensitivity where measures of body composition seem more informative regarding nutritional status. Furthermore, fat mass plays an important role in other clinical manifestations. In addition, measures of body composition should allow more individualised therapeutic support.

Pregnancy outcomes of women with and without a history of anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: When women have a history of anorexia nervosa (AN), the advice given about becoming pregnant, and about the management of pregnancies, has usually been cautious. This study compared the pregnancy outcomes of women with and without a history of AN. METHOD: Women with a confirmed diagnosis of AN who had presented to psychiatric services in North East Scotland from 1965 to 2007 were identified. Those women with a pregnancy recorded in the Aberdeen Maternal and Neonatal Databank (AMND) were each matched by age, parity and year of delivery of their first baby with five women with no history of AN. Maternal and foetal outcomes were compared between these two groups of women. Comparisons were also made between the mothers with a history of AN and all other women in the AMND. RESULTS: A total of 134 women with a history of AN delivered 230 babies and the 670 matched women delivered 1144 babies. Mothers with AN delivered lighter babies but this difference did not persist after adjusting for maternal body mass index (BMI) in early pregnancy. Standardized birthweight (SBW) scores suggested that the AN mothers were more likely to produce babies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) [relative risk (RR) 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-2.13]. AN mothers were more likely to experience antepartum haemorrhage (RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.09-2.65). CONCLUSIONS: Mothers with a history of AN are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The magnitude of these risks is relatively small and should be appraised holistically by psychiatric and obstetric services.

[The role of a pediatric endocrinologist in diagnostics and therapeutic management of anorexia nervosa--own experiences and review of literature]. / Rola endokrynologa dzieciecego w diagnostyce i leczeniu jadlowstretu psychicznego--doswiadczenia wlasne i przeglad pismiennictwa.

INTRODUCTION: Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are counted among psychosomatic diseases, whose incidence has been rapidly increasing in the last decades. To date, the etiology, diagnostic and therapeutic management of eating disorders have not been uniformly determined. The objective of the study is determination of the role of a pediatric endocrinologist in diagnostics and management of eating disorders. MATERIAL: In the years 1992-2007 in Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology Chair of Pediatrics, Polish-American Institute of Pediatrics, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland were hospitalized 164 patients with suspected anorexia nervosa, aged 9-20 years, 150 girls, and 14 boys. All girls were included in psychological and dietetic treatment. Additionally, in group of 36 girls, the 3-years observation of bone mineralization changes was performed. METHODS: The indications for hospitalization included the assessment of nutritional status, particularly electrolyte imbalance, cardiovascular complications and nutritional treatment. II. Procedure included on department: 1) Correction of general children's state. 2) Monitoring of cardiovascular system disorders. 3) Nutritional treatment. 4) Differential diagnosis. III. Prevention and treatment of late complications was performed in group of 36 girls. In this group, every 6 months were evaluated: body mass index, duration of secondary amenorrhea, serum sex hormone, IGF-I and cortisol levels and 24-hour urine cortisol. Spine densitometry in the AP projection was performed every 12 months, using a Lunar unit (DEXA). The pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis was introduced in girls with duration of secondary amenorrhea lasted for more than 6 months, with decreased bone mineralization BMD < (-) 1SD and body mass deficit < 20%. 16 girls which did not presented disorders of bone mineralization, or refused treatment have not got the pharmacological treatment, while in 20 girls the pharmacological therapy (calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation and hormonal treatment - Estraderm TTS and Provera 5 mg) was provided. RESULTS: Anorexia nervosa was diagnosed in 150 cases, bulimia in 6 cases, in 2 children was diagnosed celiac disease, in 2 patients adrenal insufficiency, in 1 girl myasthenia, in 1 girl diabetes mellitus type 1, in 1 boy hypothalamo-pituitary tumor and in 1 boy psychosis was diagnosed. The nutritional improvement was evaluated in group of 36 girls, which continued treatment in time 3 years. At the beginning of the observation period the mean value of the body mass index (BMI) was 15.95 kg/m2, and after 36 months of the treatment the mean BMI value was 20 kg/m2. Before the treatment one patient was still menstruated despite her body mass loss, 8 girls were pre-menarche, and the remaining 27 patients had secondary amenorrhea of the mean duration of 11.14 months. In the initial period of the follow-up, all the anorectic patients demonstrated a decreased bone mineral density. Before treatment the median Z score in the entire experimental group was (-)1,2 SD whereas after 3 years of treatment value of Z score decreased by 0,5 SD in group of 16 girls without the pharmacological treatment and increased by 0,5 SD in 20 girls on pharmacological treatment. The significant, negative correlation between secondary amenorrhea and Z score value was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The role of a pediatrician in therapeutic management of eating disorders is intervention in life-threatening conditions, treatment of acute complications, differential diagnosis, nutritional treatment, prevention and management of late complications. Because of etiology and special way of treatment the management of anorexia nervosa should have been taken by psychiatrist. The duty of endocrinologists and gynecologists is the late complications treatment, such as an amenorrhea and osteoporosis.

Neural correlates of impaired cognitive-behavioral flexibility in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Impaired cognitive-behavioral flexibility is regarded as a trait marker in anorexia nervosa patients. The authors sought to investigate the neural correlates of this deficit in executive functioning in anorexia nervosa. METHOD: Fifteen women with anorexia nervosa and 15 age-matched healthy comparison women underwent event-related functional MRI while performing a target-detection task. The task distinguished between shifts in behavioral response and shifts in cognitive set. It involved infrequent target and non-target distractor stimuli embedded in a sequence of prepotent standard stimuli. RESULTS: Relative to comparison subjects, anorexia nervosa patients showed a significantly higher error rate in behavioral response shifting, independent of whether those runs also involved cognitive set shifting. During behavioral response shifting, patients showed reduced activation in the left and right thalamus, ventral striatum, anterior cingulate cortex, sensorimotor brain regions, and cerebellum that differed significantly from the comparison group but showed dominant activation in frontal and parietal brain regions. These differential activations in patients and comparison subjects were specific to shifts in behavioral response: except for thalamic activation, they were not observed in response to non-target distractor trials that required no alteration in behavioral response. CONCLUSION: Impaired behavioral response shifting in anorexia nervosa seems to be associated with hypoactivation in the ventral anterior cingulate-striato-thalamic loop that is involved in motivation-related behavior. In contrast, anorexia nervosa patients showed predominant activation of frontoparietal networks that is indicative of effortful and supervisory cognitive control during task performance.

Caffeine consumption among eating disorder patients: epidemiology, motivations, and potential of abuse.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of the study was to investigate caffeine use in different types of eating disorders (ED) patients either using a categorical approach [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition - Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) diagnostic criteria] or a dimensional perspective. METHOD: Fifty-eight ED female patients [anorexia nervosa (AN), restricting and binge-eating/purging type, N=15; bulimia nervosa (BN) purging type/nonpurging type, N=26; binge eating disorder (BED), N=17] referred to an Eating Disorder Unit and 15 non-clinical controls were administered the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and the Caffeine Use Test, an interview specifically developed to investigate caffeine intake. Statistical analyses were then repeated clustering patients according to the presence/absence of purging behaviors (purgers, N=22; non-purgers, N=19; BED, N=17). RESULTS: Current and lifetime caffeine use, measured as mg/day, were similar comparing controls and ED patients as a whole. BN patients showed a significantly higher maximum lifetime caffeine intake (817.4+/-528,9 vs 325.0+/-294.6 mg/die, F=3.246, p<0.05); the same for purgers vs controls (p<0.05). Caffeine abuse was significantly more represented among patients vs controls (p<0.01), but similar among different patients' groups. As for diagnoses according to DSM-IV-TR Substance Use modified for caffeine, no significant difference was found among the different groups, for either Dependence, Intoxication or Withdrawal. Most of patients and controls reported pleasure as the main motivation for caffeine use, followed by increased vigilance and attention and appetite suppression in AN and BN patients. Note that a shift in diagnosis in the course of the ED from non-purging to purging type was associated with an increase in caffeine current, lifetime and maximum lifetime intake (F=1.667 p<0.05), except for BED patients. Severity of the ED measured as CGI score or comorbidity did not affect caffeine intake in patients as a whole, but in the purging subgroup current caffeine use was increased in presence of an anxiety disorder (p<0.05), and decreased in presence of a mood disorder (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Data from the present study are in agreement with previous evidence in literature that a high percentage of ED patients ordinarily use caffeine with an average intake similar to that of the general population, however with a kind of binge attitude. Among heavy drinkers, daily caffeine intake and alcohol/cigarettes use are associated supporting the link with the dimension of impulse disregulation. The substantial number of subjects from our sample satisfying research criteria for Dependence, together with increasing reports of caffeine intoxication, suggests the growing relevance of these issues that deserve further investigation.

[Metabolic causes of bone mineralisation disorders in patients with anorexia nervosa]. / Uwarunkowania metaboliczne zaburzen mineralizacji koscca u pacjentek z jadlowstretem psychicznym.

AIM: To assess the influence of metabolic disorders on densitometric parameters in patients with anorexia nervosa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and twenty six healthy females from control group participated in the study. Serum calcium, phosphorus, estradiol, cortisol, osteocalcin and C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I concentrations were estimated. Urine sample was analysed for 24 hrs excretion of calcium and phosphorus. Lumbar bone mineral density and Z-score were assessed by DEXA. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed the presence of positive correlation between densitometric parameters and serum concentrations of estradiol and phosphorus and negative correlation with serum concentration of cortisol. The duration of anorexia nervosa and secondary amenorrhea correlated negatively with densitometric parameters. There was no correlation between bone turnover markers and densitometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Current data are in agreement with hypothesis of multifactorial ethiopathogenesis of osteoporosis in anorexia nervosa.

Unreported sauna use in anorexia nervosa: evidence from the world-wide-web.

Weight loss methods employed in anorexia nervosa (AN) are vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, suppositories, ipecac, weight loss medications and inadequate insulin in diabetics. Some methods result in weight loss from fluid depletion and not a reduction in body fat. Sauna use causes rapid fluid loss, but has not been reported in the medical literature as a weight loss strategy used in AN. We found reports of sauna use in AN on the world-wide-web are rare. We hypothesize that the warming caused by the use of sauna, may result in physical improvement in AN and thereby reduce its acceptability as a weight loss strategy.