Weight gain and eating disorder symptoms among individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between weight gain and eating disorder (ED) symptoms among adults receiving treatment for atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN), to determine whether those who had a higher percent of expected body weight (%EBW) at discharge exhibited lower ED symptoms than those who gained less weight, and to compare this group to a matched sample of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). METHOD: Participants were 96 adults receiving treatment at an ED treatment facility between December 2020 and May 2023. The Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was completed at admission and discharge, and %EBW was obtained at admission and discharge. RESULTS: All EDE-Q subscale scores improved from admission to discharge for patients with AAN and patients with AN. Neither %EBW at discharge nor weight gain were associated with EDE-Q subscale scores for those with AAN. For patients with AN, %EBW at discharge and weight gain were associated with EDE-Q Restraint at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Weight restoring to a higher level and gaining more weight were not associated with EDE-Q scores at discharge for AAN. Further research is needed to determine how weight restoration using intensive treatment settings affects remission and recovery in patients with AAN.

"Terminal anorexia nervosa" may not be terminal: An empirical evaluation.

Gaudiani et al. (2022) presented terminal anorexia nervosa (T-AN) as a potential new specifier to the anorexia nervosa (AN) diagnosis, with criteria including (a) AN diagnosis, (b) age > 30 years, (c) previously participated in high-quality care, and (d) the clear, consistent determination by a patient with decision-making capacity that additional treatment would be futile, knowing death will result. This study's purpose was to empirically examine a subgroup of participants with AN who met the first three criteria of T-AN-and a smaller subset who also met a proxy index of the fourth criterion involving death (TD-AN)-and compare them to an adult "not terminal" anorexia nervosa (NT-AN) group and to a "not terminal" subset 30 years of age or older (NTO-AN). Patients at U.S. eating disorder treatment facilities (N = 782; T-AN: n = 51, TD-AN: n = 16, NT-AN: n = 731, NTO-AN: n = 133), all of whom met criteria for a current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition diagnosis of AN, were compared regarding admission, discharge, and changes from admission to discharge on physiological indices (i.e., white blood cell counts, albumin levels, aspartate aminotransferase levels, and body mass index), as well as self-report measures (i.e., eating disorder, depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms). In contrast to the tight syndromal symptom interconnections of, and inevitable spiral toward death expected for, a terminal diagnosis, results suggest substantial variability within the T-AN group and TD-AN subset, and an overall trend of improvement across physiological and self-report measures. This study thus provides some empirical evidence against the specification of the T-AN diagnosis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparing eating disorder treatment outcomes of transgender and gender diverse adolescents with those of cisgender adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorder (ED), depression, and anxiety symptoms at admission and discharge were compared, as were admission-to-discharge changes, for transgender and gender diverse (TGD), and cisgender adolescents receiving intensive treatment for EDs. METHOD: Participants were 44 TGD and 573 cisgender adolescents admitted to a treatment facility. Participants completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) at admission and discharge. RESULTS: Both groups had elevated EDE-Q scores at admission (TGD: M = 3.78, standard deviation [SD] = 1.70; cisgender: M = 3.33, SD = 1.74) that improved by discharge (TGD: M = 2.27, SD = 1.83, Cohen's d = .98; cisgender: M = 2.10, SD = 1.54, Cohen's d = .79); there were no differences in EDE-Q between groups at admission (p = .09; odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] [.98, 1.44]) or discharge (p = .48; OR = 1.07, 95% CI [.88, 1.30]). On admission, TGD adolescents had higher suicidality, measured by PHQ-9, item 9 (p < .001; OR = 1.94, 95% CI [1.51, 2.52]), and depression (p < .001; OR = 1.10, 95% CI [1.05, 1.16]) than cisgender participants. Severity decreased over treatment for all measures. Both groups showed similar improvement on suicidality (p = .93; OR = .98, 95% CI [.70,1.36]), depression (p = .42; OR = 1.02, 95% CI [.97, 1.07]), and anxiety (p = .14; OR = 1.05, 95% CI [.99, 1.12]). However, at discharge, suicidality (p = .02; OR = 1.40, 95% CI [1.04, 1.85]), depression (p < .01; OR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.02, 1.11]), and anxiety (p = .02; OR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.01, 1.12]) were higher for TGD adolescents than their cisgender peers. DISCUSSION: All participants had similar ED symptom severity and improvement. Depression, anxiety, and suicidality remained elevated for TGD adolescents compared to their cisgender peers at discharge, suggesting the need for targeted treatment. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents have increased risk of eating disorders (EDs); few studies examine how they respond to ED treatment. We examine treatment outcomes of TGD adolescents receiving ED treatment compared to their cisgender peers. We measured ED symptoms along with depression, anxiety, and suicidality at the beginning and end of treatment. While TGD adolescents showed similar improvement in ED symptoms, measures of depression, anxiety, and suicidality remained elevated at the time of discharge.

A multi-modal assessment of fear conditioning in adolescent anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a pernicious psychiatric disorder which is principally characterized by a fear of weight gain. Notwithstanding the centrality of fear in the psychopathology of AN, controlled assessments of negative valence systems are lacking. Herein we assess fear conditioning in adolescent females with AN. METHOD: Adolescent girls (Mage = 14.6 years, ±1.57) with DSM-5 diagnoses of AN (N = 25) and age-matched control girls (Mage = 14.8 years, ±1.46) with no DSM-5 diagnoses (N = 25) completed structured clinical interviews and participated in a classical three-phase Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigm. Participants with comorbid anxiety disorders were excluded. Skin conductance response (SCR) was measured, alongside self-reported fear, valence, and fear expectancy ratings. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significant differential acquisition across all four measures. Regarding group comparisons, no differences emerged for self-reported fear, valence, and fear expectancy ratings during acquisition, although for SCR, those with AN demonstrated reduced physiological arousal relative to controls. Both groups demonstrated significant differential extinction for unconditioned stimuli (US) expectancy, self-report fear, and self-report valence. No statistically significant group differences were evident during extinction to the conditioned stimuli (CS)+, on any outcome measure. However, controls reported more positive valence to the CS- than those with AN. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypotheses, our preliminary assessment did not find support for elevated fear responding among adolescent girls with AN with regards to fear acquisition or extinction. These data suggest that AN in adolescent girls may not be associated with a heightened propensity to acquire fear, but conversely, may suggest that exposure treatments for AN may be helpful, since extinction learning is intact in AN. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: AN is characterized by fear-related symptoms, including food and weight-related fear, and behavioral avoidance, yet controlled studies assessing fear learning are limited. Our preliminary assessment of adolescent AN indicates no abnormalities in fear learning among adolescents with AN. These findings may inform existing mechanistic models of AN psychopathology, and the development of exposure-based treatments for AN.

Emotion coaching skills as an augmentation to family-based therapy for adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A pilot effectiveness study with families with high expressed emotion.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of augmenting family-based treatment (FBT) for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) with a parent emotion coaching intervention (EC) focused on reducing parent expressed emotion. METHOD: In this pilot effectiveness trial, families of adolescents with AN/AAN exhibiting high expressed emotion received standard FBT with either (1) EC group or (2) support group (an attention control condition focused on psychoeducation). RESULTS: Forty-one adolescents with AN or AAN were recruited (88% female, Mage = 14.9 ± 1.6 years, 95% White: Non-Hispanic, 1% White: Hispanic, 1% Bi-racial: Asian). Most study adolescents were diagnosed with AN (59%) while 41% were diagnosed with AAN. Participating parents were predominantly mothers (95%). Recruitment and retention rates were moderately high (76% and 71%, respectively). High acceptability and feasibility ratings were obtained from parents and interventionists with 100% reporting the EC intervention was "beneficial"-"very beneficial." The FBT + EC group demonstrated higher parental warmth scores at post-treatment compared to the control group (standardized effect size difference, d = 1.58), which was maintained at 3-month follow-up. Finally, at post-treatment, the FBT + EC group demonstrated higher rates of full remission from AN/AAN (40%) compared to FBT + support (27%), and were nine times more likely to be weight restored by 3-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: Augmenting FBT with emotion coaching for parents with high expressed emotion is acceptable, feasible, and demonstrates preliminary effectiveness. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Family based treatment for AN/AAN is the recommended treatment for youth but families with high criticism/low warmth are less likely to respond to this treatment. Adding a parent emotion coaching group (EC) where parents learn to talk to their adolescents about tough emotions is feasible and well-liked by families.

Testing the role of associative learning in evidence-based treatments for anorexia nervosa.

Treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN) remain ineffective for many patients. Processes that can account for differential treatment outcomes remain mostly unknown. We propose that the field test the role of associative learning in current psychological treatments. We hold that this line of research could yield actionable information for understanding non-response and improving long-term outcomes. To make this argument, we define associative learning and outline its proposed role in understanding psychiatric disorders and their treatment. We then briefly review data exploring associative learning in AN. We argue that associative learning processes are implicitly implicated in existing treatments; by this rationale, baseline differences in learning may interfere with treatment response. Finally, we outline future research to test our hypotheses. Altogether, future research aimed at better understanding how associative learning may contribute to AN symptom persistence has the potential to inform novel directions in intervention research. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: There is a pressing need to improve outcomes in treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN). We propose that individual differences in associative learning-the ability to form and update associations between cues, contexts, behaviors, and outcomes-may account for differential response to existing treatments. Undertaking this research could provide an understanding of how current treatments work and inform new approaches for those who may be at risk of poor outcomes.

Examining clinicians' perceptions and experiences working with diverse families in family-based treatment: Common adaptations and considerations for treatment engagement.

OBJECTIVE: Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is the leading manualized treatment for adolescent eating disorders; however, there is limited research on the adaptation of FBT for diverse families (i.e., families belonging to identity groups subject to systemic barriers and prejudices). The purpose of this qualitative study was to address: (1) adaptations made to the FBT model (if any) by clinicians working with diverse youth and families; (2) the barriers/facilitators of maintaining adherence (fidelity) to the model for these families; and, (3) the barriers/facilitators to access and engagement in FBT for diverse families. METHOD: Forty-one FBT clinicians were recruited globally using purposive and snowball sampling, and listservs from eating disorder networks. Clinicians participated in individual interviews or focus groups, discussing their experiences delivering and adapting FBT for diverse families. Qualitative data was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using directed content analysis. RESULTS: Some participants reported making adaptations to every phase of the FBT model, while others did not, when working with diverse families. In Phase 1, participants cited adapting the family meal, length/number of sessions provided, and addressed systemic barriers. In Phase 2, participants adapted the length of the phase and rate/level of independence given back to the adolescent. In Phase 3, participants increased or decreased the number of sessions, or eliminated this phase to address barriers to engagement in FBT. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to qualitatively examine clinicians' experiences of implementing FBT with diverse families. Results may inform future FBT planning, clinician training, clinical decision-making tools, and opportunities for modifications to the foundational model. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This qualitative study examined clinicians' perceptions and experiences implementing FBT with diverse families, specifically what adaptations (if any) were made to the foundational model, and the barriers and facilitators to adhering to and engaging in the model. Results show that some participants reported making adaptations to every phase of FBT, while others did not, with diverse families. Findings may inform future treatment planning, clinician training, clinical decision-making tools, and potential modifications to FBT.

An examination of adults with atypical anorexia nervosa at admission to treatment at higher levels of care: An attempt to increase diagnostic clarity.

OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious illness with a high mortality rate and multiple physiological complications. The vague definition of atypical AN allows for subjective interpretation. This retrospective study aimed to focus future research on the operational definition of atypical AN by examining four factors associated with atypical AN at admission to higher level of care treatment. METHODS: Adults with atypical AN (n = 69) were examined within sample analyses among four groups: (1) >10% versus ≤10% weight loss; (2) weight loss within the previous 3 months versus >3 months; (3) engaging in purging behaviors versus absence of purging behaviors; and (4) endorsing versus not endorsing significant cognitive aspects of AN. RESULTS: Patients with atypical AN endorsed elevated ED cognitions on the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and depressive symptoms; a lack of association was found between weight loss severity and weight loss time frame with depressive symptoms, eating concern, and restraint. Purging behavior was associated with a higher expected body weight percentage (%EBW) and dietary restraint, while greater AN cognitions were associated with a higher EBW and weight loss percentage. Few patients demonstrated bradycardia, hypophosphatemia, or amenorrhea. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrated the severity of ED cognitions and depressive symptoms in this atypical AN sample and provided directions for future studies in the nosology of atypical AN. It may be important to distinguish between individuals with atypical AN who are purging and those who are not. Atypical AN was associated with a low frequency of physiological disturbances. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides further clarification regarding the operational definition of atypical AN; currently, a constellation of symptoms under Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders. This study was consistent with previous research in reporting severe eating disorder cognitions in adults with atypical AN, and noted the potential importance of distinguishing a purging distinction. A minority of patients in this study had physiological impairments.

Short-term outcomes of the study of refeeding to optimize inpatient gains for patients with atypical anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The StRONG trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of higher calorie refeeding (HCR) in hospitalized adolescents and young adults with malnutrition secondary to restrictive eating disorders. Here we compare refeeding outcomes in patients with atypical anorexia nervosa (atypical AN) versus anorexia nervosa (AN) and examine the impact of caloric dose. METHOD: Patients were enrolled upon admission and randomized to meal-based HCR, beginning 2000 kcal/day and advancing 200 kcal/day, or lower calorie refeeding (LCR), beginning 1400 kcal/day and advancing 200 kcal every other day. Atypical AN was defined as %median BMI (mBMI) > 85. Independent t-tests compared groups; multivariable linear and logistic regressions examined caloric dose (kcal/kg body weight). RESULTS: Among n = 111, mean ± SD age was 16.5 ± 2.5 yrs; 43% had atypical AN. Compared to AN, atypical AN had slower heart rate restoration (8.7 ± 4.0 days vs. 6.5 ± 3.9 days, p = .008, Cohen's d = -.56), less weight gain (3.1 ± 5.9%mBMI vs. 5.4 ± 2.9%mBMI, p < .001, Cohen's d = .51) and greater hypomagnesemia (29% vs. 11%, p = .03, OR = 3.29). These suboptimal outcomes were predicted by insufficient caloric dose (32.4 ± 6.9 kcal/kg in atypical AN vs. 43.4 ± 9.8 kcal/kg in AN, p < .001, Cohen's d = 1.27). For every 10 kcal/kg increase, heart rate was restored 1.7 days (1.0, 2.5) faster (p < .001), weight gain was 1.6%mBMI (.8, 2.4) greater (p < .001), and hypomagnesemia odds were 70% (12, 128) lower (p = .02). DISCUSSION: Although HCR is more efficacious than LCR for refeeding in AN, it contributes to underfeeding in atypical AN by providing an insufficient caloric dose relative to the greater body weight in this diagnostic group. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: The StRONG trial previously demonstrated the efficacy and safety of higher calorie refeeding in patients with malnutrition due to restrictive eating disorders. Here we show that higher calorie refeeding contributes to underfeeding in patients with atypical anorexia nervosa, including poor weight gain and longer time to restore medical stability. These findings indicate these patients need more calories to support nutritional rehabilitation in hospital.

An open trial for adults in a residential program for binge eating spectrum disorders.

The current study assessed treatment outcome for 99 adult admissions to a residential program specifically designed for binge eating spectrum disorders (BESD). Participants completed self-report measures at admission, discharge, and 12-month follow-up and were asked to complete blood draws at admission and follow-up. Primary outcomes were eating behaviors; secondary outcomes included comorbid symptoms and physiological variables. Eating behaviors improved significantly from admission to follow-up, as did most comorbid symptoms and quality of life, despite no change in body mass index. Some variables displayed a curvilinear relationship, with some worsening of symptoms from discharge to follow-up, although scores at follow-up remained well below admission values. Participation in the treatment program was associated with reduced problematic eating and comorbid symptoms and increased quality of life up to one year after discharge. Findings from this study may encourage the development of similar residential treatment programs for BESD for those who have not responded to outpatient care or mixed milieu settings, and may prompt randomized studies testing similar treatments versus usual care.

Expressed emotion and early treatment response in family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa.

This study examined the effect of pre-treatment levels of parental expressed emotion (EE) on early treatment response for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN). Data were collected from 121 adolescents, ages 12-18, who met DSM-IV criteria for AN excluding the amenorrhea criterion, and their parents. Participants were randomized to family-based treatment (FBT) or adolescent-focused therapy (AFT). To examine the effects of different thresholds of EE, we used two different levels of EE in analyses. Results demonstrated that adolescents who had at least one parent with elevated EE indicated by a lower threshold (i.e. even mild levels) at baseline were less likely to achieve an early treatment response, suggesting that EE might interfere with treatment success from the start of treatment. When high EE was defined by a higher threshold, these effects were no longer significant, regardless of treatment type (FBT or AFT). These findings suggest that adolescents with AN may be more sensitive to EE than other mental illnesses, such that lower thresholds of EE impact the speed with which they are able to reduce symptoms and gain weight in treatment. It may be necessary to target parental EE prior to or early in treatment or pivot to parent-focused treatment to change the trajectory of treatment response. Future research is needed to explore ways parental EE can be reduced.

A descriptive study of treatment-seeking adults with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder at residential and inpatient levels of care.

Most research on avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) has been with children and adolescents, while the limited research on adults with ARFID has been in the domain of outpatient treatment. This descriptive study sought to explore psychological characteristics (N = 45; measured with self-report questionnaires) and physiological characteristics (N = 66; e.g. vital signs, bloodwork) at admission for 66 adults with ARFID seeking residential and inpatient levels of care. While adults with ARFID presented with significant food restriction as well as mild depressive symptoms, high anxiety symptoms, and impaired quality of life, patients presented with mostly normal physiology, except for low bone density, and trivial abnormalities in serum creatinine and hepatic enzymes. Patients in this sample were most likely to endorse fear of aversive consequences, especially those for whom ARFID symptoms had first arisen in adulthood. These results note the psychological impairment and relative physiological normalcy of treatment-seeking adults with ARFID at the outset of residential and inpatient treatment, identifying future treatment and outcome research priorities in this understudied population.

Comparing family-based treatment with inpatient treatment in youth with anorexia nervosa eligible for hospitalization: A 12-month feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: Family-based treatment (FBT) for youth with anorexia nervosa (AN), has not been compared to inpatient, multimodal treatment (IMT). METHOD: Prospective, non-randomized pilot feasibility study of adolescents with AN receiving FBT (n = 31), and as a reference point for exploratory outcome comparisons IMT (n = 31), matched for baseline age and percent median BMI (%mBMI). Feasibility of FBT in youth fulfilling criteria for IMT was assessed via study recruitment and retention rates; acceptability via drop-out and caregiver strain; safety via adverse events; preliminary treatment effectiveness between groups was assessed via a change in %mBMI, AN psychopathology (Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, EDE-Q), and hospital days, over 12 months with intent-to-treat, mixed models repeated measures analyses covering post-intervention usual care until 12 months. RESULTS: Taking into account that 8 FBT patients (25.8%) crossed over to IMT due to lack of weight gain or psychiatric concerns, FBT and IMT were similarly feasible, acceptable, and safe, apart from more physical antagonism toward others in FBT (p = .010). FBT lasted longer (median [interquartile range, IQR]; 33.6 [17.4, 49.9] vs. 17.3 [14.4, 24] weeks, p < .001), but required fewer hospital days than IMT (median, [IQR], FBT = 1 [0, 16] vs. IMT = 123 [101, 180], p < .001). Baseline comorbidity-adjusted changes over 12 months did not differ between groups in %mBMI (FBT = 12.6 ± 11.9 vs. IMT = 13.7 ± 9.1; p = .702) and EDE-Q global score (median, [IQR]; FBT = -1.2 [-2.3, 0.2] vs. IMT = -1.3 [-2.8, -0.4]; p = .733). DISCUSSION: Implementing FBT in this pilot study was feasible, acceptable, and safe for youth eligible for IMT according to German S3 guidelines. Non-inferiority of FBT versus IMT requires confirmation in a sufficiently large multicenter RCT. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This pilot study with 62 adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa demonstrated that for 2/3rd of patients eligible for a long hospitalization in the German health care system, outpatient, Family-based treatment (FBT) was a safe and feasible treatment alternative. Over 12 months, FBT lead to similar weight gain and reduction in eating disorder cognitions as inpatient treatment with fewer hospital days. This pilot study needs to be followed up by a larger, multicenter trial.

Family-based treatment (FBT) for loss of control (LOC) eating in youth: Current knowledge and future directions.

Loss of control (LOC) eating in youth is a common disordered eating behavior and associated with negative health and psychological sequalae. Family-based treatment (FBT) is an efficacious treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (BN) but has not been formally evaluated for adolescents with LOC eating. This study is a secondary data analysis from a randomized controlled clinical trial (NCT00879151) testing FBT for 12-18-year-olds with BN. Data were reanalyzed to examine outcomes for LOC eating episodes, regardless of episode size. Abstinence rates, defined as zero LOC eating episodes (objective or subjective binge episodes) in the previous month, were calculated at the end-of-treatment (EOT), 6-month, and 12-month follow-up time points. Among 51 adolescent participants (M + SD: 15.94 + 1.53 y; 92% female; 23.5% Hispanic; 76.5% Caucasian), FBT significantly reduced LOC eating episodes, with 49% achieving LOC eating abstinence at EOT. At 6-month follow-up, 41% achieved LOC eating abstinence. Of those providing 12-month follow-up data, 73% achieved abstinence. This preliminary exploration suggests that FBT may be effective for youth with LOC eating, regardless of episode size. Additional research is needed to replicate these findings and extend treatments with developmental adaptations for younger children with LOC eating.

Who Responds to an Adaptive Intervention for Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa Being Treated With Family-Based Treatment? Outcomes From a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disorder with high morbidity and mortality. The current evidence supports the use of family-based treatment (FBT), but recovery rates are only about 40%. Improving treatment outcomes among adolescents with AN will save lives, improve health, and prevent chronicity. This study examined the relative efficacy of adding intensive parental coaching (IPC) to standard FBT for patients who do not respond by weight gain of 2.4 kg by session 4, a clinical predictor of outcome at the end of treatment, to improve remission rates (>94% of expected mean body mass index). METHOD: The study recruited 107 participants and their families from across the United States; 69 participants failed to respond early and were randomly assigned to continue with standard FBT or to receive 3 sessions of IPC. Participants were adolescents (ages 12-18) meeting DSM-5 criteria for AN; 6.5% were male, and 11% were Hispanic. RESULTS: Main outcomes were mean body mass index >94% expected for age, height, and sex. Secondary outcomes included change in eating-related cognitions. Adding IPC to early nonresponders did not improve outcomes except for participants whose parents demonstrated low parental self-efficacy at baseline (moderator). Early weight gain of 2.4 kg by session 4 was replicated as a predictor of end of treatment remission. CONCLUSION: Parental self-efficacy moderates IPC as an adaptive treatment for adolescents with AN. Baseline parental self-efficacy assessment can be used to identify families most likely to benefit from adding IPC to FBT. Future studies should consider earlier interventions to improve early response rates. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Adaptive Treatment for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa; https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT03097874.

Characterising use of recovery record among a large, transdiagnostic sample of adults with eating disorders across higher levels of care.

OBJECTIVE: Smartphone applications (i.e., apps) designed to target mental health symptoms have received increasing public and empirical attention, including in eating disorder|eating disorders (EDs) treatment. While some data have begun to characterise app users in non-controlled settings, there is limited information on use of apps in higher levels of care (e.g., partial hospitalisation or residential treatment programs) for EDs. METHOD: This study aimed to explore metrics of use while in treatment for a commonly used ED-focused mobile app (Recovery Record) among individuals enroled in intensive outpatient, partial hospitalisation, residential, or inpatient treatments (N = 2042). RESULTS: Results indicated that older individuals and participants with binge eating disorder demonstrated more frequent app engagement compared to younger participants and other ED diagnoses, respectively. Individuals entering at intensive outpatient and partial hospitalisation levels of care, as well as those with routine discharges engaged more frequently with RR compared to individuals entering in inpatient or residential treatment, and those with non-routine discharges. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide initial descriptions of how RR may be used within higher levels of care for adults with EDs. Further work is needed to establish the benefit of these apps in clinical settings for EDs over and above standard treatment, better characterise for whom these apps provide benefit, and identify how best to tailor the experience to promote engagement across the full spectrum of ED patients.

A brief examination of treatment outcomes in higher levels of care for individuals with eating disorders across age groups.

OBJECTIVE: Although eating disorders (EDs) occur throughout the lifespan, little research has been conducted with midlife/older adults, particularly those in higher levels of care (HLOC). The current study examined outcomes among 2009 patients with EDs receiving HLOC treatment at a large multisite facility between January 2020 and June 2022, across different age groups (ages <18, 18-25, 26-39 and ≥40). It was hypothesised that patients aged 40+ would exhibit less improvement on measures of ED psychopathology and depression than other age groups. METHOD: Participants completed the eating disorder examination-questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at admission and discharge. RESULTS: Changes for all outcomes from admission to discharge were statistically significant at p < 0.001 across all age groups. Changes in the EDE-Q Restraint subscale were significantly less in patients ages 26-39 than in patients ages 18-25 (p < 0.01). Changes in PHQ-9 were significantly greater in patients ages 40+ than patients ages 18-25 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to hypotheses, patients ages 40+ did not show worse outcomes than younger patients, and showed greater improvements in depression than young adults. The therapeutic needs of midlife/older adults with EDs may be favourably met by a HLOC regimen as described in this study.

Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire: Norms for Adults in Higher Levels of Care.

Establishing normative data for questionnaires is essential for the accurate interpretation of scores, given that these norms can vary according to different subpopulations and treatment contexts. The purpose of this study was to establish norms for the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) among adults receiving higher levels of care (HLOCs) for the treatment of eating disorders. Participants were 2,283 people receiving treatment at the inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient levels of care. The EDE-Q was completed at admission. Patients with anorexia nervosa-restricting subtype (AN-R) had the lowest EDE-Q Global scores when compared with all other eating disorder diagnoses. When compared with intensive outpatient care, only those in residential treatment had higher EDE-Q Global scores. This study is among the first to describe norms for the EDE-Q in a large sample of adults receiving various HLOCs. Programs utilizing the EDE-Q to assess treatment outcomes can use these findings to aid people in interpreting their scores.

The Role of Primary Care in Bridging Adolescents Awaiting Eating Disorder Treatment.

The striking rise in adolescent eating disorders since the severe acute respiratory coronavirus syndrome 2 pandemic has amplified demands for specialty eating disorders services and contributed to protracted delays in care. In the context of these delays, patients are at risk for increased weight loss, medical instability, escalating disease progression and poor prognosis. Primary care providers (PCPs) are frequently the first point of contact for young patients with eating disorders and are often left to bridge the gap while families struggle to establish specialty care. Yet, beyond case detection and medical comanagement, there are no evidence-based guidelines that can assist PCPs to prepare families for treatment, halt disease progression, and begin the lengthy process of weight and nutritional restoration in efforts to reduce medical complications and support a favorable prognosis. We present the case of a 13-year-old girl with a restrictive eating disorder to illustrate how PCPs can use intervention principles and strategies derived from evidence-based eating disorder treatment to successfully manage adolescent patients until they can access specialty treatment. We offer concrete guidelines for decision-making, as well as suggested behavioral and medical interventions for the PCP. With evidence-based tools, PCPs are well-positioned to support young patients with restrictive eating disorders and their family members as they begin the process of recovery from an eating disorder.

Modification of an inpatient medical management protocol for pediatric Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: improving the standard of care.

BACKGROUND: No guidelines currently exist that represent a standardization of care for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) on an inpatient service. Unique features of this diagnosis (e.g., sensory sensitivity contributing to involuntary emesis) suggest that established protocols that were developed for anorexia nervosa might be less effective for adolescents with ARFID. To inform improved inpatient medical stabilization and care for these patients, we first provide an overview of clinical characteristics for patients with ARFID who presented to a pediatric hospital for inpatient eating disorder care. We use these descriptives to outline the rationale for, and executions of, modifications to an inpatient protocol designed to flexibly meet the needs of this clinical population. METHODS: Chart review with descriptive statistics were conducted for patients who had received an ARFID diagnosis from March 2019 to March 2023 (N = 32, aged 9-23). We then present a case series (n = 3) of adolescents who either transitioned to a novel adjusted protocol from an original standard of care on the inpatient service, or who received only the standard protocol. RESULTS: The sample was aged M(SD) = 15.6 (3.3) years, 53% male, and a majority (69%) presented with the ARFID presentation specific to fear of negative consequences. On average, patients had deviated from their growth curve for just over two years and presented with mean 76% of their estimated body weight. Of those requiring nasogastric tube insertion during admission (n = 8, 25%), average duration of tube placement was 15 days. From within this sample, case series data suggest that the adjusted protocol will continue to have a positive impact on care trajectory among adolescents admitted for ARFID including improved weight gain, reduction of emesis, and improved food intake. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the likely need to tailor established medical inpatient protocols for those with ARFID given different symptom presentation and maintenance factors compared to patients with anorexia nervosa. Further research is warranted to explore the longer-term impact of protocol changes and to inform standardization of care for this high priority clinical population across care sites.

No current standard of care exists for pediatric patients with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) who are hospitalized for medical stabilization related to complications secondary to malnutrition. Clinical features of this diagnosis (e.g., sensory sensitivity) suggest that existing treatment protocols developed for patients with other restrictive eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, may be less effective for patients with ARFID. This study first describes a pediatric sample of patients with ARFID upon admission to an inpatient service. Then, a case series is used to illustrate the potential benefits of using an adjusted protocol that was modified to better suit the needs of children and adolescents with ARFID. Findings support future study of the proposed adjusted protocol and may inform future standardization of improved care for this high priority clinical population.