Eating disorders, trauma, PTSD, and psychosocial resources.

The frequency of traumatic events and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women with eating disorders (ED) was assessed. Also, patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) were compared; post-traumatic symptomatology and the role of psychosocial resources were analyzed. One hundred three ED patients (29.1±10.5 years) were studied through the use of standardized questionnaires. We found that 23.1% of AN and 25.5% of BN patients fulfilled the study definition for a current diagnosis of PTSD. Cumulative traumatization led to more severe symptomatology. Psychosocial resources were found to have strong associations with symptomatology. These findings provide additional support for the association between traumatization and ED. Clinical interventions for traumatized ED patients may benefit from a focus on post-traumatic stress symptomatology and personal resources.

[The Essen Trauma-Inventory for children and adolescents (ETI-CA)]. / Das Essener Trauma-Inventar für Kinder und Jugendliche (ETI-KJ).

OBJECTIVE: In light of the clinical and scientific relevance of traumatic events and posttraumatic disorders our study aimed to develop and validate the Essen Trauma-Inventory for Children and Adolescents (ETI-CA). The new instrument should assess various aspects of traumatic events and both posttraumatic disorders, namely Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder according to the criteria provided in DSM-IV. METHOD: ETI-CA was administered to a sample consisting of 276 children and adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years with regard to psychometric properties on clinical and non-clinical groups. RESULTS: The ETI-CA subscales as well as the total score proved to have high internal consistency. The 4-factorial structure (intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal, dissociation) was in line with the theoretical assumptions. Associations between ETI-CA and other trauma instruments as well as instruments for psychological distress and protective factors provided empirical evidence for the construct validity of ETI-CA. CONCLUSIONS: In German-speaking regions, the ETI-CA represents the first economic, reliable and valid screening instrument that assesses exposure to a broad range of potential traumatic events as well as posttraumatic disorders. The ETI-CA can be recommended for use in research as well as in clinical settings.

[Effects of inpatient treatment on eating disorder symptoms, health-related quality of life and personal resources in anorexia and bulimia nervosa]. / Effekte stationärer Psychotherapie auf Essstörungssymptomatik, gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität und personale Ressourcen bei Anorexia und Bulimia nervosa.

The aim of the present prospective-naturalistic study was the evaluation of psychosomatic inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). 128 patients with eating disorders (n=59 AN and n=69 BN) were investigated on admission and discharge using the following standardized questionnaires: eating disorder symptoms (EDI), general psychopathology (BSI), quality of life (SF-12), and personal resources (SOC-13, SWE). Moderate to large effect sizes were achieved for the eating disorder symptoms; in addition, general psychopathology was substantially reduced at the end of treatment, and quality of life as well as personal resources were enhanced. Personal resources were found to be the strongest predictors for therapy outcome. Based on our data, important insights and recommendations may be gained for the inpatient treatment of eating disorders, especially with regard to the potential influence of personal resources.