Early traumatic experiences are linked to hypersexual behavior and erectile dysfunction in men through the mediation of body uneasiness and general psychopathology.

BACKGROUND: Childhood traumatic experiences have been associated with hypersexuality and sexual dysfunctions. However, the mediators of the interactions between these variables should be clarified in men. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the interaction of early traumatic experiences, psychopathology, and sexuality with respect to erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypersexual behavior. The hypothesized model expected that traumatic experiences would be associated with hypersexual behavior and reduced sexual functioning through the mediation of body uneasiness and psychological distress. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional and observational. A total of 317 men were enrolled. Male patients with a primary complaint of ED and an indication for psychiatry referral represented the clinical sample (n = 116; mean ± SD age, 42.82 ± 16.89 years). Clinical classification was assessed with the Structured Interview on Erectile Dysfunction. The second sample (n = 201, 30.82 ± 11.94 years) was recruited from the general population. All participants were administered the following questionnaires: Brief Symptom Inventory, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Hypersexual Behavior Inventory, Body Uneasiness Test-A, and 5-item International Index of Erectile Function. OUTCOMES: Psychopathology and sexual functioning were assessed by a dimensional approach, and a multivariate model was computed by structural equation model analysis. RESULTS: When compared with the sample from the general population, the clinical sample exhibited a higher prevalence of early traumatic experiences, as measured by scores on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (45.08 ± 14.25 vs 39.03 ± 10.22, F = 17.63, P < .001), and a higher tendency to engage in hypersexual behaviors (34.63 ± 13.55 vs 30.79 ± 12.44, F = 6.97, P < .01). Structural equation model analysis showed excellent fit indices indicating that early traumatic experiences predicted hypersexual behaviors and ED through the exacerbating mediating effect of body uneasiness and psychopathology. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians should not limit their attention to the behavioral level when assessing sexual dysfunction in men; rather, they should also consider the complex psychopathologic consequences of childhood trauma. Integrated treatments that address the potential presence of childhood trauma with its wider psychological correlates (eg, emotion dysregulation, body uneasiness) might improve treatment response. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The study reports novel data on the relationship among childhood maltreatment, male sexuality, and psychopathologic mediators with a dimensional assessment. However, the assessment was cross-sectional, and causality was mainly derived from previous studies. CONCLUSION: The present study enriches the current literature, strengthening the hypothesis that childhood traumatic experiences significantly shape development and sexuality. Body uneasiness and psychopathology can both tax sexual functioning, as assessed by erectile functioning or hypersexuality.

The interplay between mentalization, personality traits and burnout in psychiatry training: Results from a large multicenter controlled study.

BACKGROUND: A better characterization of educational processes during psychiatry training is needed, both to foster personal resilience and occupational proficiency. METHODS: An adequate coverage of medical residents at the national level was reached (41.86% of the total reference population, 29 out of 36 training centers-80.55%). Controls were recruited among residents in other medical specialties. All participants were assessed by questionnaires to evaluate early life experiences, attachment style, personality traits, coping strategies, emotional competencies. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) framework was employed to investigate the interplay between individual factors. RESULTS: A total sample of 936 people was recruited (87.9% response-rate; 645 residents in psychiatry, 291 other medical residents). Psychiatry trainees reported a higher prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect), greater attachment insecurity (anxious or avoidant) in comparison to other medical trainees. Psychiatry residents also reported higher social support-seeking as a coping strategy, lower problem-orientation, and lower transcendence. Lower neuroticism, higher openness to experience, and higher emotional awareness were also observed in psychiatry trainees. Psychiatry training was associated with a redefinition of conflict management skills as a function of seniority. The SEM model provided support for an interplay between early traumatic experiences, mentalization skills (coping strategies, emotion regulation), interpersonal competencies and occupational distress. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study supported a theoretical model based on mentalization theory for the interactions between personal and relational competencies in psychiatry training, thus providing potential target of remodulation and redefinition of this specific process of education.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing as add-on treatment to enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy for patients with anorexia nervosa reporting childhood maltreatment: A quasi-experimental multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: This quasi-experimental study aimed to compare the outcome of patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) reporting moderate/severe childhood maltreatment (CM) treated exclusively with Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT-E) or with CBT-E plus Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). METHOD: A total of 75 patients with AN reporting moderate/severe CM were initially assessed regarding body mass index (BMI), general and eating disorder (ED)-specific psychopathology, and dissociative symptoms, and re-evaluated after 40 CBT-E sessions (T1). Then, 18 patients received EMDR, whereas the others were placed on a waiting list and continued CBT-E. T2 assessment was performed after 20-25 sessions of EMDR or CBT-E. A control group of 67 patients without CM was also enroled and treated with CBT-E. RESULTS: Contrary to patients without CM, neither of the traumatised groups improved in BMI, general and ED psychopathology, or dissociation at T1. However, at T2, both traumatised groups improved in BMI and ED-specific psychopathology, with the CBT + EMDR group demonstrating greater improvements. Moreover, only the CBT + EMDR group improved in general psychopathology and dissociative symptoms. The reduction of ED symptoms in traumatised patients was mediated by the amelioration of dissociation. DISCUSSION: The addition of EMDR to CBT-E may benefit patients with AN reporting moderate/severe CM.

The primacy of ocular perception: a narrative review on the role of gender identity in eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: Phenomenological research has enriched the scientific and clinical understanding of Eating Disorders (ED), describing the significant role played by disorders of embodiment in shaping the lived experience of patients with ED. According to the phenomenological perspective, disorders of embodiment in ED are associated with feelings of alienation from one's own body, determining an excessive concern for external appearance as a form of dysfunctional coping. The purpose of the present narrative review is to address the role of gender identity as a risk factor for EDs in the light of phenomenological approaches. METHODS: Narrative review. RESULTS: The current study discusses the interplay between perception, gender identity, and embodiment, all posited to influence eating psychopathology. Internalized concerns for body appearance are described as potentially associated with self-objectification. Furthermore, concerns on body appearance are discussed in relation to gendered social expectations. The current review also explores how societal norms and gender stereotypes can contribute to dysfunctional self-identification with external appearances, particularly through an excessive focus on the optical dimension. The socio-cultural perspective on gender identity was considered as a further explanation of the lived experience of individuals with ED. CONCLUSIONS: By acknowledging the interplay between these factors, clinicians and researchers can gain a deeper understanding of these disorders and develop more effective interventions for affected individuals. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V narrative review.

From early relational experiences to non-suicidal self-injury in anorexia and bulimia nervosa: a structural equation model unraveling the role of impairments in interoception.

PURPOSE: Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) frequently exhibit Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), yet their co-occurrence is still unclear. To address this issue, the aim of this study was to elucidate the role of impairments in interoception in explaining the NSSI phenomenon in AN and BN, providing an explanatory model that considers distal (insecure attachment/IA and traumatic childhood experiences/TCEs) and proximal (dissociation and emotional dysregulation) risk factors for NSSI. METHOD: 130 patients with AN and BN were enrolled and administered self-report questionnaires to assess the intensity of NSSI behaviors, interoceptive deficits, IA, TCEs, emotional dysregulation and dissociative symptoms. RESULTS: Results from structural equation modeling revealed that impairments in interoception acted as crucial mediators between early negative relational experiences and factors that contribute to NSSI in AN and BN, particularly emotional dysregulation and dissociation. Precisely, both aspects of IA (anxiety and avoidance) and various forms of TCEs significantly exacerbated interoceptive deficits, which in turn are associated to the emergence of NSSI behaviors through the increase in levels of dissociation and emotional dysregulation. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model provided a novel explanation of the occurrence of NSSIs in patients with AN and BN by accounting for the significance of interoception. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V-Cross-sectional observational study.

Internalized transphobia predicts worse longitudinal trend of body uneasiness in transgender persons treated with gender affirming hormone therapy: a 1-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Given the relationship between interiorized stigma and body image, it could be hypothesized that high levels of internalized transphobia (IT) might predict higher levels of body uneasiness in subjects with gender dysphoria (GD) and worse improvement of body image after gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). AIM: We sought to evaluate the relationship between IT and body uneasiness in subjects with GD and the role of IT in moderating the improvement of body image after GAHT. METHODS: In total, 200 individuals with GD performed the baseline assessment; 99 were re-evaluated 12 months after starting GAHT. At baseline participants were evaluated through a face-to-face interview and filled self-administered questionnaires to evaluate GD (Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale [UGDS]), IT attitudes (Attitudes Toward Transgendered Individuals [ATTI] Scale), body uneasiness (Body Uneasiness Test, part A [BUT-A]), and general psychopathology (Symptom Checklist 90-Revised [SCL 90-R]). The same questionnaires, except ATTI, were readministered at follow-ups. OUTCOMES: Outcomes were based on measures of the associations between IT and baseline characteristics of the sample, the longitudinal trends of GD, body uneasiness, and general psychopathology; and IT as a moderator of the longitudinal trend of body uneasiness. RESULTS: At baseline, IT correlated with lower level of education, higher GD, and more severe body uneasiness. Longitudinal analyses showed significant improvements in GD, body uneasiness, and general psychopathology during GAHT. Moderation analysis confirmed that participants with more transphobic attitudes showed less improvement after GAHT with regard to body uneasiness (bTime*ATTI = -.002, P = .040). The Johnson-Neyman technique revealed that no significant improvement in body uneasiness was found for participants with ATTI scores lower than 71.14. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The presence of IT should be investigated in subjects with GD who require gender affirming treatments to provide specific interventions aimed at targeting this dimension. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths of this study include the mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal design and the dimensional evaluation of the investigated constructs. Limitations include the small sample size and the limited follow-up. Furthermore, the effects of gender affirming surgery were not evaluated. CONCLUSION: The association of IT with both baseline body uneasinessand the longitudinal course of this dimension highlighted the clinical significance of body uneasiness and the importance of making continuous efforts to improve education and information to fight societal stigmas.

Mortality and care of eating disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Eating disorders (EDs) are considered serious mental illnesses, with one of the highest lethality among psychiatric disorders, even though the issue of mortality due to these conditions is still controversial. The present study was aimed at comparing the mortality rate in a cohort of ED patients representative of the geographic area with that of the age and gender-matched general population of central Italy. METHODS: Patients were enrolled between 1994 and 2018, among those attending the eating disorders treatment network of the Florence area (EDTN), which is a regional multidisciplinary treatment reference center for EDs covering the clinical population of the metropolitan Florence area (Italy). The life status of participants was determined through linkage with the Regional Mortality Registry. RESULTS: A total of 1277 individuals with EDs were included, including 368 with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), 312 with Bulimia Nervosa (BN), and 597 individuals with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Twenty-two patients (1.72%) died, during a median follow-up of 7.4 years. The mortality rates among ED patients did not significantly differ from that of the general population of the same age and sex with a Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) of 1.19, 95% CI 0.79-1.81. Only among BN patients, the mortality was significantly increased after 10 years from clinical evaluation (SMR 11.24, 95% CI 3.62-34.84). CONCLUSION: The low mortality in EDs, compared to published studies, might be due to the EDTN treatment strategy, based on a large network which makes an integrated multidisciplinary team available for almost all the patients with EDs of the geographical area.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, post-treatment sexual dysfunction and persistent genital arousal disorder: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Adverse effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on sexual function have been an important area of research for many years. However, the duration of SSRI-associated sexual adverse effects, and their possible persistence after treatment discontinuation, is still uncertain. The aims of the current systematic review were first to identify existing evidence of sexual dysfunction following SSRI discontinuation, and to provide an account of reported symptoms and proposed treatment options; and second, to establish whether current literature allows accurate estimates of the prevalence of such sexual dysfunction. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar; papers with clinical data regarding patients with persistent sexual dysfunction after SSRI treatment suspension were included. RESULTS: Overall, two retrospective interventional studies, six observational studies and 11 case reports were judged eligible for inclusion. It was not possible to determine reliable estimates of prevalence. Similarly, a cause-effect relationship between SSRI exposure and persistent sexual impairment could not be ascertained. Nonetheless, the potential for continued sexual disturbances despite discontinuation could not be entirely ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to investigate a possible dose-response relationship between SSRI exposure and persistent sexual adverse effects. Treatment options for persistent dysfunctions remain limited, but novel therapeutic approaches may be required in order to address an otherwise neglected need for sexual well-being.

Prevalence study of mental disorders in an Italian region. Preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders are a major public health problem. However, over the last few years, there have been few studies aimed at evaluating their diffusion. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating: the prevalence of the most frequent psychiatric disorders in the general population residing in Tuscany using a clinical scale administered by trainee in psychiatry. METHODS: The study was carried out on a representative sample of the general population aged > 18 years, randomly extracted from the register of patients in the Tuscany region, adopting a proportional sampling method stratified by gender, age group and Local Health Units (LHU). Each person was contacted by letter followed by a phone call from an operator who makes an appointment with the trainee in psychiatry. The diagnostic interview conducted was the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Point and lifetime prevalence by gender and age group were calculated. Differences and associations were considered statistically significant if their p-values were less than 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 408 people involved, 390 people were enrolled (of which 52.6% female). The 28.5% of the sample had been affected by a psychiatric disorder during their lifetime. In their lifetime, the most represented psychiatric disorders were major depressive episode (20.4%), major depressive disorder (17.0%) and panic disorder (10.3%), more frequent in the female than the male group. Current conditions were predominantly major depressive episode (3.1%) and agoraphobia (2.8%). A 5.9% rate of current suicidal ideation was also found. CONCLUSIONS: In the general population, 28.5% of people reported a psychiatric disorder during their lifetime. This prevalence is considerably higher than that reported in a previous study carried out in central Italy.

The menstrual distress questionnaire (MEDI-Q): reliability and validity of the English version.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual cycle has a significant impact on women's health from different perspectives, both physically and psychologically. The assessment of menstrual-related distress is of pivotal clinical interest, especially in women with chronic exposure to abnormal bleeding or pain. The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MEDI-Q) is a new tool originally developed in Italian that comprehensively evaluates menstrual-related distress. OBJECTIVE: To validate the English version of the MEDI-Q in an English-speaking population. METHODS: The study consisted of two phases: an initial translation phase of the original Italian version of the MEDI-Q, and a data collection phase to validate the new English version among 288 native English-speaking women. RESULTS: The English version of MEDI-Q showed excellent psychometric properties, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95). Construct validity was supported by significant correlations between MEDI-Q scores and scores on measures of psychological distress and premenstrual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The English version of the MEDI-Q is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of menstrual distress and its impact on psychological well-being. This tool can be utilized in research and clinical settings to comprehensively investigate the impact of menstruation on various populations, identify and monitor menstruation-related disorders promptly and effectively, and to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted treatments for menstrual distress.

The relationship between problematic Instagram use and eating disorders psychopathology: an explanatory structural equation model.

An emerging body of research has evidenced the negative influence of using and being exposed to social networking sites (SNSs) on body image. Furthermore, it has been postulated that SNS use might be related with onset and persistence of eating disorders (EDs) psychopathology. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the complex interplay between problematic Instagram use (PIU) (conceptualized as a potential behavioral addiction comprising withdrawal, conflict, tolerance, salience, mood modification and relapse) and ED psychopathology, by means of an explanatory structural equation model. We hypothesized that PIU would be associated with ED symptoms through the mediating role of appearance comparison, individual psychological investment in physical appearance, and body uneasiness. A sample of 386 young female participants (Mage = 26.04 ± 6.73) was recruited, of which 152 had received a diagnosis of ED. ED patients used Instagram more than the control group and showed higher levels of PIU. Results from structural equation modeling (fit indices: χ2 = 44.54, df = 19, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.059; CFI = 0.98; SRMR = 0.02) showed that PIU predicted appearance comparison and psychological investment in physical appearance, which in turn predicted body uneasiness. In turn, body uneasiness predicted ED psychopathology and interpersonal difficulties. Our model provides a useful account of how eating disorder symptoms could be triggered and maintained by an addictive use of Instagram.

Progressive Voxel-Wise Homotopic Connectivity from childhood to adulthood: Age-related functional asymmetry in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Homotopic connectivity during resting state has been proposed as a risk marker for neurologic and psychiatric conditions, but a precise characterization of its trajectory through development is currently lacking. Voxel-Mirrored Homotopic Connectivity (VMHC) was evaluated in a sample of 85 neurotypical individuals aged 7-18 years. VMHC associations with age, handedness, sex, and motion were explored at the voxel-wise level. VMHC correlates were also explored within 14 functional networks. Primary and secondary outcomes were repeated in a sample of 107 adults aged 21-50 years. In adults, VMHC was negatively correlated with age only in the posterior insula (false discovery rate p < .05, >30-voxel clusters), while a distributed effect among the medial axis was observed in minors. Four out of 14 considered networks showed significant negative correlations between VMHC and age in minors (basal ganglia r = -.280, p = .010; anterior salience r = -.245, p = .024; language r = -.222, p = .041; primary visual r = -.257, p = .017), but not adults. In minors, a positive effect of motion on VMHC was observed only in the putamen. Sex did not significantly influence age effects on VMHC. The current study showed a specific decrease in VMHC for minors as a function of age, but not adults, supporting the notion that interhemispheric interactions can shape late neurodevelopment.

Defining the Molecular Mechanisms of the Relaxant Action of Adiponectin on Murine Gastric Fundus Smooth Muscle: Potential Translational Perspectives on Eating Disorder Management.

Adiponectin (ADPN), a hormone produced by adipose tissue, facilitates gastric relaxation and can be a satiety signal in the network connecting peripheral organs and the central nervous system for feeding behavior control. Here, we performed preclinical research by morpho-functional analyses on murine gastric fundus smooth muscle to add insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning ADPN action. Moreover, we conducted a clinical study to evaluate the potential use of ADPN as a biomarker for eating disorders (ED) based on the demonstrated gastric alterations and hormone level fluctuations that are often associated with ED. The clinical study recruited patients with ED and healthy controls who underwent blood draws for ADPN dosage and psychopathology evaluation tests. The findings of this basic research support the ADPN relaxant action, as indicated by the smooth muscle cell membrane pro-relaxant effects, with mild modifications of contractile apparatus and slight inhibitory effects on gap junctions. All of these actions engaged the ADPN/nitric oxide/guanylate cyclase pathway. The clinical data failed to unravel a correlation between ADPN levels and the considered ED, thus negating the potential use of ADPN as a valid biomarker for ED management for the moment. Nevertheless, this adipokine can modulate physiological eating behavior, and its effects deserve further investigation.

Behavior genetics: Causality as a dialectical pursuit.

The overarching theme of causality in behavioral genetics is discussed on epistemological grounds. Evidence is offered in favor of a continuum spectrum in causality, in contrast to discrimination between causal factors and associations. The risk of invalidating exploratory studies in behavior genetics is discussed, especially for the potential impact on those fields of medicine interested in complex behaviors.

Pregorexia: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the constructs of body image dissatisfaction and eating disturbances by gestational age in the peripartum.

PURPOSE: Pregorexia is a phenomenon posited to occur in the peripartum, characterized by an attempt to counter pregnancy's physiological changes in body shape through reduced calorie intake or increased physical activity. METHODS: In this pre-registered systematic review and meta-analysis, body image dissatisfaction and eating psychopathology in the peripartum according to gestational age were formally assessed. PubMed was searched up to May 2023. Selection criteria were represented by studies on body image concerns or eating psychopathology in the peripartum (up to 1 year after delivery). The population needed to include women from the general population or among patients with a history of (or current) eating disorder. For the meta-analysis, 17 studies were included: 10 for body image dissatisfaction (2625 individuals overall), 7 for eating behaviors (2551 individuals overall). The interplay between body image and the following themes was examined in depth: the adoption of breastfeeding, peripartum depression, sociocultural influences on body image, sexual disturbances, experiencing or reporting an altered food intake. RESULTS: Progressive dissatisfaction with body image during pregnancy by gestational age was observed, stably elevated for at least 12 months postpartum. Eating psychopathology was observed as elevated only at 12 months in the postpartum, but not during pregnancy. DISCUSSION: The current work offers normative values of body image satisfaction and eating psychopathology in the peripartum by gestational age. The relevance of current results was discussed, in order to inform both current clinical practice and future public policies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I-Evidence obtained from: systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Health literacy in female patients affected by anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: a cross-sectional study with pair-matched controls.

PURPOSE: Health Literacy (HL) consists in all the skills and knowledges used by people to understand and seek health-related information. Inadequate levels of HL substantially affect many different aspects of health. The primary aim of the present study was to assess levels of HL in female patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), compared with matched control subjects. METHODS: A consecutive series of 64 female patients with AN and BN (mean age 23.1 ± 7.0) was enrolled, matched with 64 female control subjects (mean age 23.7 ± 7.1). Both groups completed the Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS), which evaluate subjective and objective HL level respectively. RESULTS: Patients with AN and BN showed lower levels of subjective HL (10.0 ± 3.5 vs. 11.3 ± 3.0) and higher levels of objective HL (5.0 ± 1.3 vs. 3.6 ± 1.6) when compared with controls. No difference between AN and BN was found. No correlation between HLS-EU-Q16 Total Score and duration of illness was found. A negative correlation was found between EDE-Q Eating Concerns and subjective HL levels. HLS-EU-Q16 Total Score was predicted by educational level in control subjects only, while NVS Total Score was not predicted by educational level in control subjects nor in patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with AN and BN had lower levels of subjective HL. NVS scores could overestimate objective HL in female patients with AN and BN. The promotion of HL in areas differing from those that concern nutritional characteristics of food, could be a therapeutic target for these patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Avoidant Attachment Style Moderates the Recovery of Healthy Sexuality in Women With Anorexia Nervosa Treated With Enhanced Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT-E): A 2-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: Insecure Attachment style has been associated with interpersonal problems in persons with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), and it might moderate the recovery of healthy sexuality in these subjects. AIM: The aim of the present 2-year follow-up study was to evaluate the role of insecure attachment style as a moderator of the recovery of healthy sexuality in women with AN. METHODS: 63 Italian women with AN treated with a multidisciplinary approach including Enhanced Cognitive Behavior Therapy were evaluated by means of a clinical interview and self-administered questionnaires. Individual psychotherapy sessions were administered by experienced psychotherapists over the course of at least 40 weeks (median number of sessions = 43, range: 38-50); trained dieticians provided personalized nutritional counselling to facilitate weight recovery. The assessment was performed at baseline (T0) and after 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) years. OUTCOMES: The administered questionnaires investigated general psychopathology (SCL-90-R), eating disorder-specific psychopathology (EDE-Q), female sexuality (FSFI) and adult attachment style (ECR). RESULTS: At baseline, avoidant attachment style was associated with all domains of sexual dysfunction. Longitudinal analysis showed a significant decrease in both eating disorder-specific psychopathology and sexual dysfunctions at follow-up evaluations. However, only 45% of remitted subjects also recovered healthy sexuality: these women reported significantly lower avoidance scores than those who only recovered from AN. Moderation analysis indicated that sexual desire did not increase in participants with higher levels of avoidant attachment. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These novel findings highlighted the importance of the assessment of adult attachment in the clinical setting, for better characterization and treatment of persons suffering from AN. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The long follow-up duration, the multidisciplinary nature of the treatment, and the novelty of the topic were major strengths of the study, whereas the limited sample size and the absence of biological data were the main limitations. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the crucial role of avoidant attachment in the relationship between AN and sexual dysfunctions, underlining the importance of integrating treatments with attachment-focused interventions. Cassioli E, Rossi E, Vizzotto C, et al. Avoidant Attachment Style Moderates the Recovery of Healthy Sexuality in Women With Anorexia Nervosa Treated With Enhanced Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT-E): A 2-Year Follow-Up Study. J Sex Med 2022;19:347-355.

Attachment insecurity predicts worse outcome in patients with eating disorders treated with enhanced cognitive behavior therapy: A one-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the role of attachment insecurity in predicting a worse longitudinal trend of eating disorder (ED) psychopathology and body uneasiness in patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) or Bulimia Nervosa (BN) treated with Enhanced Cognitive Behavior Therapy, considering the longitudinal interplay between these dimensions. METHOD: In total, 185 patients with AN or BN performed the baseline assessment, and 123 were re-evaluated after 1 year of treatment. Participants completed questionnaires evaluating ED psychopathology (Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire) and body uneasiness (body uneasiness test). For the assessment of adult attachment, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised was administered at baseline. Bivariate latent change score analysis within the structural equation modeling framework was performed to investigate the evolution of ED psychopathology and body uneasiness, their longitudinal interplay, and the role of attachment style as an outcome predictor. RESULTS: After treatment, all psychopathological features showed an overall improvement. Higher baseline levels of body uneasiness predicted a worse course of ED psychopathology. The change in body uneasiness over time depended on changes over time in ED psychopathology, but not vice versa. Insecure attachment predicted a worse longitudinal trend of ED psychopathology, and, through this impairment, it indirectly maintained higher levels of body uneasiness, as confirmed by mediation analyses. DISCUSSION: The role of attachment insecurity as a predictor of treatment outcome suggests the need for an integration of the cognitive-behavioral conceptualization of EDs with a developmental perspective that considers attachment-related issues. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Considering the burden of EDs in terms of public health and the unsatisfactory response to standard treatments, the identification of outcome predictors is of considerable clinical interest. This study demonstrated that attachment insecurity was associated with worse longitudinal trends of ED psychopathology and body uneasiness in patients with AN and BN treated with CBT-E, highlighting the importance of personalizing treatment programs taking into account a developmental perspective on these disorders.

A 1-year follow-up study of the longitudinal interplay between emotion dysregulation and childhood trauma in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the complex relationship between eating disorder (ED) specific psychopathology, emotion dysregulation, and their longitudinal variations in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) treated with a multidisciplinary approach including enhanced cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT-E), and to provide an integrated model which includes childhood trauma as a predictor of worse treatment outcomes. METHOD: In total, 120 female patients with AN were evaluated at admission (T0), and 105 were re-evaluated after 1 year (T1) of treatment. At T0, patients underwent a clinical assessment and filled the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL90-R), the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). SCL-90-R, EDE-Q, and DERS were readministered at T1. Variations between T0 and T1 were evaluated, and the proposed model was investigated using bivariate latent change score analysis in a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework. RESULTS: An overall significant clinical amelioration was observed after treatment. A unidirectional effect of DERS scores on EDE-Q variations was outlined by SEM: patients with higher baseline DERS scores achieved less EDE-Q improvements, and EDE-Q latent change score was significantly predicted by longitudinal variations of DERS-but not vice versa. Higher CTQ scores predicted reduced treatment efficacy for ED-specific psychopathology through the mediating effect of higher baseline DERS scores. DISCUSSION: The present study sheds light on the mechanism by which early trauma compromises treatment outcome in patients with AN, underlining the crucial role of emotional dysregulation.

PTSD trajectories across different mental disorders in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: a naturalistic, longitudinal, multicenter study.

The potentially traumatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in subjects with pre-existing mental disorders is still unclear, especially regarding its long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in patients with mental disorders, during the 3rd wave of the infection (T0, March-April 2021) while strict containment measures were applied in Italy, and after 3 months (T1, June-July 2021), with reduced restrictive measures. A total sample of 527 subjects, with different DSM-5 diagnoses, was consecutively enrolled at nine Italian psychiatric outpatient services. Assessments at T0 included: the Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). These two latter were repeated at T1. Results showed that at T0, 43.6% of the sample reported symptoms of PTSD, with females (p = .004), younger subjects (p = .011), unemployed/students (p = .011), and living with their parental families (p = .017), resulting more affected. Differences in PTSD rates emerged across diagnostic groups ranging from 10% in patients with psychoses up to 59% in those with feeding and eating disorders. An improvement at T1 emerged in all diagnostic groups for the IES-R scores, while WSAS scores improved only in subjects with mood disorders. In conclusions, subjects with mental disorders presented relevant rates of PTSD and PTSS at 1-year into the pandemic. Further long-term studies are needed to follow-up the course of pandemic traumatic burden especially in patients with severe mental disorders.