State negative affect in relation to loss-of-control eating among children and adolescents in the natural environment.

Affect regulation theory proposes that loss-of-control (LOC)-eating is preceded by increases and followed by decreases in negative affect (NA), but empirical tests of this theory among pediatric samples in the natural environment are needed. Using an ecological momentary assessment approach, we conducted post-hoc analyses to examine LOC-eating severity reported during post-meal surveys in relation to the intensity of composite NA and NA components (anger, anxiety, depression, guilt) throughout the day for two weeks in a cohort of healthy children and adolescents. Multilevel models tested the associations among LOC-eating severity and NA components reported at pre-meal surveys (t-1), post-meal surveys (t), and lagged post-meal surveys (t+1). Models were adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, height, fat mass, socioeconomic status, and time between the occurrence and report of eating episodes; post-meal analyses were also adjusted for pre-meal NA. Participants age 8-17 (N = 100; 55% female; 45% male; 12.83 ± 2.73y; 24% with overweight/obesity) recorded 2410 eating episodes. Pre-meal composite NA and NA components were not associated with LOC-eating severity at the subsequent meal. LOC-eating severity was positively associated with post-meal depression (ß = 0.042, 95% CI = 0.007, 0.076) and guilt (ß = 0.056, 95% CI = 0.017, 0.095), but not composite negative affect, anger, or anxiety. The positive association among LOC-eating severity and guilt persisted in lagged post-meal analyses (ß = 0.075, 95% CI = 0.021, 0.128). Contrary to affect regulation theory and laboratory data, but consistent with prior ecological momentary assessment data in children and adolescents, pre-meal NA was not linked to subsequent LOC-eating. Increased guilt following meals may be a mechanism for the development of exacerbated disordered eating. Longitudinal studies may elucidate how NA is implicated in the etiology of pediatric eating disorders.

Brief report: Differences in nonsuicidal self-injury according to binge eating and purging status in an adolescent sample seeking eating disorder treatment.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is elevated in adults with eating disorders (EDs), with a particularly increased incidence among individuals who engage in binge eating and/or purging (B/P) behaviors. Despite substantially elevated prevalence of NSSI in adolescence in general, NSSI in child and adolescent ED samples is understudied. There is some evidence for elevated prevalence of NSSI between B/P and restriction-only groups; however, this finding is not consistently reported and research in this area has excluded certain diagnostic groups (e.g., other specified feeding or eating disorder). Our aim was to identify the rates at which a transdiagnostic sample of adolescent patients with EDs (n = 155) report lifetime or past-month NSSI, and whether these rates differ between individuals who engaged in recent B/P behaviors vs. restriction only. Lifetime NSSI was present in 40.6% of the sample, and 23.2% of participants reported engaging in NSSI in the month prior to treatment. Individuals who reported recent B/P behaviors were more likely to report past-month (p = .005, OR = 5.57) and lifetime (p = .004, OR = 4.39) NSSI compared to individuals who did not report B/P behaviors. These results suggest an increase in risk for NSSI in child and adolescent patients in ED treatment who endorse B/P behaviors compared to patients who endorse restriction only. Research is needed to clarify the etiologic factors that may explain this association and the longitudinal changes in NSSI throughout the course of EDs.