Interpersonal, affective and compulsive features of driven exercise in anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: This preregistered (https://osf.io/g9ajb) analysis sought to integrate the current literature on trait compulsivity into maintenance models of driven exercise in anorexia nervosa (AN). We tested whether compulsivity increases the likelihood of driven exercise via interpersonal and affect-regulatory pathways. METHODS: We used multilevel structural equation modeling to test the hypothesis that trait compulsivity predicts a stronger within-person link between affect-regulatory difficulties or interpersonal sensitivity and driven exercise in female adolescents and adults with AN. We used data from five assessments across inpatient treatment and 6-months follow-up of 207 adult and adolescent patients with AN (1035 datapoints). RESULTS: In line with our hypotheses, patients who generally experienced more affect-regulatory difficulties or stronger interpersonal sensitivity tended to engage in driven exercise more strongly. Moreover, high levels of trait compulsivity amplified the effect of interpersonal sensitivity on driven exercise across time. Contrary to our hypotheses, the link between affect regulation and driven exercise was not moderated by compulsivity. Similar effects on general eating disorder psychopathology were found, but no cross-level moderation effect of compulsivity. LIMITATIONS: Due to sample size, potential AN subtype-dependent effects were not analyzed. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that driven exercise coincides with self-reported experiences of interpersonal sensitivity and that this link varies as a function of compulsivity such that the within-person coupling is stronger among those scoring high on compulsivity. To derive clinically useful functional models of driven exercise, future studies might use intensive longitudinal data to investigate its momentary associations with affect and interpersonal sensitivity in the context of compulsive traits.

[3-year course after successful therapy of extreme anorexia nervosa]. / Dreijahresverlauf nach erfolgreicher Therapie schwerstgradiger Anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is a common psychiatric disorder in adolescents and young adults and is often associated with high rates of comorbidities and a chronic course of the disease. Additionally, it still shows the highest rates of mortality among all psychiatric disorders. The case presented describes a female patient with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa who achieved remission after strict adherence to inpatient treatment and showed a full recovery in the 3­year follow-up. Shortly after achieving a minimum weight of 25 kg (171 cm, body mass index 8.5 kg/m2) the 21-year-old, chronically ill patient was admitted to an intensive care unit. After a phase of stabilization and achieving a BMI of 10 kg/m2, she was transferred to a hospital specialized in treating eating disorders. It came to a full recovery of the patient including full weight restoration during regular follow-ups (BMI 20.0 kg/m2) and normalization of the psychopathology of the eating disorder. In a 3-year follow-up, the patient presented with an enduring and complete remission of all symptoms, which were extremely expressed during the illness.

Factors influencing the length of hospital stay of patients with anorexia nervosa - results of a prospective multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: The length of stay (LOS) strongly influences anorexia nervosa (AN) inpatient weight outcomes. Hence, understanding the predictors of LOS is highly relevant. However, the existing evidence is inconsistent and to draw conclusions, additional evidence is required. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multi-center study including adult female inpatients with AN. Using stepwise linear regression, the following demographic and clinical variables were examined as potential predictors for LOS: admission BMI, AN-subtype, age, age of onset, living situation, partnership status, education, previous hospitalization, self-rated depression, anxiety and somatic symptoms (PHQ-9, PHQ-15, GAD-7), self-rated therapy motivation (FEVER) and eating disorder psychopathology (EDI-2 subscale scores). RESULTS: The average LOS of the sample (n = 176) was 11.8 weeks (SD = 5.2). Longer LOS was associated with lower admission BMI (ß = -1.66; p < .001), purging AN-subtype (ß = 1.91; p = .013) and higher EDI-2 asceticism (ß = 0.12; p = .030). Furthermore, differences between treatment sites were evident. CONCLUSIONS: BMI at admission and AN-subtype are routinely assessed variables, which are robust and clinically meaningful predictors of LOS. Health care policies might consider these variables. In light of the differences between treatment sites future research on geographical variations in mental health care seems recommended.

Empathy training in medical students - a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: Empathy is a core element in the doctor-patient relationship. This study examined whether empathy in medical students can be improved by specific training. METHODS: 158 medical students were randomized into two groups. The intervention group participated in an empathy skills training with simulated patients (SPs). The control group participated in a history course. After the intervention, empathy was assessed by blinded SPs and experts in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Students also filled out a self-assessment concerning their attitude on empathy (Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy Student Version, JSPE-S-S). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Participants of the intervention group showed significantly higher levels of empathy when rated by SPs and experts than the control group. In contrast to that, no significant group differences were observed in self-rated empathy. The results underpin the value of empathy skills trainings in medical school study programs.

Change Factors in the Process of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

While there is a plethora of evidence for the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), studies on change factors of the therapeutic process that account for this success are scarce. In the present study, 155 participants with primary OCD were investigated during CBT inpatient treatment. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale-SR served as a measure of symptom severity. In addition, the following process change factors were measured: therapeutic relationship, experience of self-esteem during therapy, experience of mastery, problem actualization and clarification. All variables were assessed on a weekly basis for seven weeks. Linear mixed growth curve analyses were conducted to model the decrease of symptoms over time and to analyse whether the change factors predicted symptom reduction. The analyses revealed a linear decrease of symptoms with high inter-individual variation. Results further showed that increase in self-esteem and mastery experiences as well as the initial score on mastery experience and clarification predicted decrease on the Y-BOCS. We conclude that CBT therapists should focus on clarification in the very first sessions, and try to boost self-esteem and self-efficacy, which is related to mastery, throughout the treatment of OCD. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: Increase in mastery and self-esteem experiences are associated with symptom decrease in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Initial score of mastery experiences and problem clarification predict symptom decrease in OCD during CBT. CBT therapists should focus on problem clarification in the very first sessions and try to boost self-esteem and self-efficacy throughout the treatment of OCD.

[Eating disorders: state of the art research and future challenges]. / Essstörungen : Stand der Forschung und künftige Herausforderungen.

Eating disorders are a common mental disorder during adolescence and young adulthood. While prevalence rates of eating disorders dramatically increased during the second half of the last century, these rates have remained relatively stable over the last 20 years. According to ICD-10 eating disorders are diagnostically categorized as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and atypical eating disorders or eating disorders not otherwise specified. Concerning the etiology, genetic factors are involved, especially in anorexia nervosa, as well as psychological and sociocultural factors. Evidence-based recommendations are available for the treatment of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder and in this context cognitive behavioral therapy is seen as the first choice. In contrast, the state of knowledge concerning the treatment of anorexia nervosa is still limited, especially concerning effective treatments for adults. Recent data only provide evidence for the effectiveness of family therapy for adolescents. Due to the lack of high quality studies, research on therapy for anorexia nervosa is a future challenge.

[Pharmacotherapy for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa]. / Pharmakotherapie von Anorexia nervosa und Bulimia nervosa: State of the Art.

Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for both anorexia nervosa and for bulimia nervosa. However, many patients are also treated by pharmaceutical drugs. For the clinician it is difficult to choose pharmacotherapy, because the drugs may not be licensed, because of pharmacodynamic problems due to underweight or purging behaviour, or because of comorbidity. The present review summarises the current knowledge on pharmacotherapy for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa considering the available guidelines. In general, the knowledge based on studies is insufficient for anorexia nervosa. Up to now, there is no proof of efficacy for any antidepressant or atypical antipsychotic with respect to weight gain; atypical antipsychotics may be helpful for ruminating or excessive motor hyperactivity. For bulimia nervosa antidepressants are the pharmacotherapy of first choice. Long-term effects, however, are still unknown.

Partial status epilepticus after electroconvulsive therapy and medical treatment with bupropion.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for therapy-refractory depression. Usually, prior antidepressant medication will be continued during ECT. However, the seizure threshold may be influenced by psychotropic drugs. We report a patient who received right unilateral ECT under concomitant treatment with bupropion, a selective noradrenaline- and dopamine-reuptake inhibitor. After the fourth session, a focal status epilepticus occurred, which was pharmacoresistant for the duration of 12 days. We assume that the induction of a status may be facilitated by a lowering of the seizure threshold due to bupropion. An evaluation of drug therapy and control of EEG before and during ECT are recommended, especially when the drug treatment has an influence on the seizure threshold.

[Internet-based approaches in the therapy of eating disorders]. / Internetbasierte Ansätze in der Therapie von Essstörungen.

Recent technological developments of communication media offer new approaches to diagnostic and therapeutic interactions with patients. One major development is Internet-based primary prevention in vulnerable individuals not yet suffering as well as the development of new therapeutic approaches for affected individuals based on the experiences of guided self-help through CD, DVD or bibliotherapy. The eating disorder literature shows several interesting, partly controlled and randomized, studies on bulimia nervosa, a few studies on binge eating disorder and no studies on anorexia nervosa. As part of the German Eating Disorder Network on Psychotherapy (EDNET) a 9-month Internet-based relapse prevention program for patients with anorexia nervosa after inpatient treatment was evaluated. Conception, first experiences and first results of the Internet-based relapse prevention program for anorexia nervosa are reported.

[Psychotherapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: what is evidence based?]. / Psychotherapie der Zwangsstörung : Was ist evidenzbasiert?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a severe, very disabling condition that usually takes a chronic course if no adequate treatment is applied. Up to now, cognitive behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention (CBT) is the most thoroughly investigated and most effective intervention, leading to a clinically significant symptom reduction in 60-70% of the patients. Correctly applied, this treatment can be equally effective as its combination with pharmacological management. For a correct implementation, however, several points have to be considered which are described in the following review. Considering the fact that some of the patients are unable to benefit sufficiently from this approach, potential alternatives and extensions of CBT are discussed. To date, however, no other treatment approach has proven to be effective based on randomised controlled trials.

[Epidemiology and health care situation of obsessive-compulsive disorders]. / Epidemiologie und Versorgungssituation von Zwangsstörungen.

Obsessive-compulsive disorders are with a 12-month prevalence of up to 1% and a lifetime prevalence of 1-2% among the more common mental disorders. This is, however, neither reflected in the health care utilization of patients nor in the daily practice of psychotherapists, where obsessive-compulsive disorders still do not seem to play a major role. Due to feelings of shame, patients often tend to conceal their obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Furthermore, besides deficits in the health care situation for this disorder, treatment practice is not satisfying as well. Current guidelines recommend exposure and response prevention as the psychotherapeutic intervention of choice. Although this treatment has proved to be effective, it is still underutilized in psychotherapeutic routine care.Lack of experience or training on the part of therapists as well as insufficient information about the disorder and treatment possibilities on the part of patients contribute to the existing insufficient and inappropriate health care situation. Further education for therapists as well as more information for patients may help to sensitize them to this disorder and therefore increase the prognosis considerably.

Physical fitness in depressive patients and impact of illness course and disability.

BACKGROUND: There is a large and increasing body of evidence that physical exercise, such as endurance training, exerts antidepressant effects in psychiatric disorders. However, compliance rates are rather low due to reduced energy and lack of motivation. Another important reason may be low baseline fitness leading to overstrain when participating in a training program. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physical fitness of depressive patients compared to healthy controls by a standardized assessment. METHODS: 51 hospitalized depressive patients were investigated by a standardized physical fitness assessment on a bicycle ergometer including measurement of maximum workload (pmax), heart rate, lactate concentration, workload at first lactate elevation (pLT), individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) and workload at IAT (pIAT). They were compared to 51 healthy controls matched for age, sex and body mass index. RESULTS: p(max), p(LT) and p(IAT) were markedly reduced in depressive patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). Lactate increase was faster and steeper in depressed patients, albeit differences never reached significant levels. There was a significant negative correlation between the length of disability and poor performance parameters but no significant correlation with other illness variables. LIMITATIONS: The study was not prospective and no study protocol was applied. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a marked reduction of physical fitness in depressive patients which cannot be explained by differences of body mass index or age. When designing therapeutic exercise programs for depressive patients evaluation of baseline training level is recommendable because many patients might overstrain themselves because of strongly reduced baseline fitness.

Frontostriatal activation in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after cognitive behavioral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the psychotherapeutic treatment of choice for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, little is known about the impact of CBT on frontostriatal dysfunctioning, known to be the neuronal correlate of OCD. METHOD: A probabilistic reversal learning (RL) task probing adaptive strategy switching capabilities was used in 10 unmedicated patients with OCD and 10 healthy controls during an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. Patients were scanned before and after intensive CBT, controls twice at comparable intervals. RESULTS: Strategy change within the RL task involved activity in a broad frontal network in patients and controls. No significant differences between the groups or in group by time interactions were detected in a whole-brain analysis corrected for multiple comparisons. However, a reanalysis with a more lenient threshold revealed decreased responsiveness of the orbitofrontal cortex and right putamen during strategy change before treatment in patients compared with healthy subjects. A group by time effect was found in the caudate nucleus, demonstrating increased activity for patients over the course of time. Patients with greater clinical improvement, reflected by greater reductions in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) scores, showed more stable activation in the pallidum. CONCLUSIONS: Although these findings are preliminary and need to be replicated in larger samples, they indicate a possible influence of psychotherapy on brain activity in core regions that have been shown to be directly involved both in acquisition of behavioral rules and stereotypes and in the pathophysiology of OCD, the caudate nucleus and the pallidum.

[The quality of university teaching in psychiatry and psychotherapy: results of a survey on the current status following the introduction of the new medical accreditation system]. / Qualität der universitären Lehre im Fach Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie: Ergebnis einer Umfrage zum aktuellen Stand nach Einführung der neuen Approbationsordnung für Arzte.

The classic criticism levelled at German medical studies was addressed in 2002 with the reform of the German medical accreditation system. For the specialties Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, a national workshop of the German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology (DGPPN) was held in Heidelberg on 23.01.2004 to implement the new legal requirements for teaching. In 2008, a postal survey was conducted among the 36 German medical faculties by the DGPPN to establish the current status of the proposed implementation, with the general structure of undergraduate medical training, student-centered syllabuses and the general significance of teaching forming the main points. With a response rate of 75%, the results can be considered representative. In general, a cautiously positive conclusion can be drawn on the implementation of the medical accreditation system. Having said that, it should be borne in mind that implementation is not yet complete and still requires optimization, for example in terms of making examinations not only theoretical but also more practical in approach.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is still an unrecognised disorder: a study on the recognition of OCD in psychiatric outpatients.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to investigate the recognition of patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in psychiatric outpatients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 2282 outpatients seen at 14 different psychiatric clinics in South Germany were asked to participate in the study. Five hundred and eighty-nine (30%) of the original 2282 patients met screening criteria for OCD, and of those, 237 (42%) participated in the final interview including DSM-IV diagnosis, and comorbidity. RESULTS: Sixty-nine of 589 participating patients who screened positively for obsessive symptoms actually had an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Only 19 (28%) of the outpatients diagnosed with OCD according to DSM-IV criteria were also given this diagnosis by their consultant. The psychopathology scores indicated that the OCD patients had clinically relevant OCD with a mean Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Score (Y-BOCS) of 17.5 (± 5.4), and a mean Clinical Global Impression Score (CGI) of 5.2 (± 1.2). CONCLUSIONS: In outpatient clinics over 70% of OCD patients remain unrecognised and thus untreated by consultants. Screening questions provide a rapid way of identifying those who may have OCD and should be incorporated into every mental state examination by consultants.

Impact of escitalopram on nocturnal sleep, day-time sleepiness and performance compared to amitriptyline: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy male subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Antidepressant drugs vary in their effects on sleep, day-time sedation and performance. Up to now, no data are available for either escitalopram (ESCIT) or amitriptyline (AMI), measuring these by an objective test, such as the MULTIPLE SLEEP LATENCY TEST (MSLT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We therefore investigated the impact of a single evening dose of 10 mg ESCIT on polysomnographically recorded nocturnal sleep, day-time sleepiness and performance in comparison to 75 mg AMI and placebo (PLAC) in healthy male subjects. RESULTS: Both antidepressants significantly suppressed REM sleep (p<0.001). Although polysomnographically measured sleep continuity was impaired after ESCIT (p=0.006), subjective estimates of sleep parameters did not differ. Periodic limb movements (PLMS) were increased after AMI (p<0.001) but not after ESCIT. Processing speed and performance were enhanced after ESCIT compared with AMI (p=0.011), but not with PLAC. Next-day alertness was significantly impaired by AMI (p=0.012), but not by ESCIT. Mean day-time sleep onset latencies increased significantly after evening ESCIT (p<0.001). In contrast, AMI led to a pronounced increase of day-time sleepiness (p=0.007). DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that single evening doses of either AMI or ESCIT exhibit different effects on next-day vigilance and alertness in terms of a slightly stimulating effect of ESCIT and a significant reduction after AMI.