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Oldenboom C, Drissen MMCM, van Dongen LCM, Kleefstra T, Prins JB, Egger JIM, Hoogerbrugge N. Neuropsychological functioning of adults with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63653. [PMID: 38747682 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) might be associated with a distinct cognitive and psychological profile. However, previous studies are limited, predominantly based on small and pediatric cohorts, likely affected by selection bias, and show a broad range of findings. We aimed to characterize the neuropsychological functioning of adults with PHTS. A total of 40 participants, with intellectual disability as exclusion criterium, completed an extensive clinical neuropsychological assessment including cognitive tasks, questionnaires, and a clinical diagnostic interview. The cognitive tasks and questionnaire data were categorized as below and above average based on 1.5 SD. About 80% of participants showed an average level of intelligence. In addition, 30% and 24% of participants scored below average on immediate memory recall and speed of information processing, respectively. Furthermore, about 25% reported above average scores on the majority of the questionnaires, indicating psychological distress, signs of alexithymia, and cognitive complaints. Personality of participants was characterized by inflexibility, social withdrawal, and difficulties in recognizing and describing their own emotions. Adults with PHTS demonstrate a heterogeneous yet distinct neuropsychological profile that is characterized by slower information processing, psychological problems, and specific personality traits. These findings provide directions on how to optimize the care and daily lives of adults with PHTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Oldenboom
- Centre of Excellence for Neuropsychiatry, Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands
| | - Meggie M C M Drissen
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Linde C M van Dongen
- Centre of Excellence for Neuropsychiatry, Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands
| | - Tjitske Kleefstra
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith B Prins
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jos I M Egger
- Centre of Excellence for Neuropsychiatry, Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nicoline Hoogerbrugge
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Moseley RL, Atkinson C, Surman R, Greville-Harris M, May L, Vuillier L. Sex-specific mechanisms for eating disorder risk in men and women with autistic traits: the role of alexithymia. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:18. [PMID: 36765413 PMCID: PMC9912205 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00746-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A poorly understood relationship exists between eating disorders (ED) and autism spectrum conditions (ASC: henceforth 'autism'). ED are more prevalent in autistic people and people with high autistic traits, and autistic features are prognostic of longer illness. Aiming to understand what increases the risk of ED in relation to autism and autistic traits, previous research has implicated alexithymia as a causal mechanism in this relationship. These studies could not, however, disentangle whether alexithymia explains the relationship between ED pathology and autistic traits directly or through its impact on anxious/depressive symptoms, which in turn result in higher ED symptomatology. Moreover, despite evidence for sex differences in the aetiology of ED, little research has examined the impact of sex on these relationships. METHODS Focusing on the association between autistic traits and ED psychopathology, we examined independent mediating effects of alexithymia and anxious/depressive symptoms, as well as sequential mediation effects where alexithymia affects ED psychopathology via its impact on anxious/depressive symptoms. Participants were 198 men and 265 women with formally diagnosed and suspected ED, who completed an online survey of standardised scales. RESULTS In men, higher autistic traits were associated with ED psychopathology sequentially via greater alexithymia and through that, greater depressive/anxious symptoms. In women, alexithymia mediated the relationship between autistic traits and ED psychopathology both directly and sequentially through its impact on anxious/depressive symptoms. Interestingly, depressive/anxious symptoms also mediated that relationship independently from alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS While cross-sectional, these findings suggest that the relationship between autistic traits and ED symptomatology is mediated by other variables. In support of its proposed role in the aetiology of ED, alexithymia was directly associated with ED symptoms in women. It also affected ED symptoms indirectly, in all participants, via its effect on depressive/anxious symptoms. Interventions focusing on alexithymia may facilitate recovery not only via their effect on ED, but via their effect on other forms of state psychopathology which contribute to the maintenance and development of ED. Sex differences, however, reflect that alternative therapeutic targets for men and women may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Moseley
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK.
| | - C Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
| | - R Surman
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
| | | | - L May
- Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, Poole, UK
| | - L Vuillier
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
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Vuillier L, Joseph J, Greville-Harris M, May L, Somerville MP, Harrison A, Moseley RL. What about males? Exploring sex differences in the relationship between emotion difficulties and eating disorders. J Eat Disord 2022; 10:193. [PMID: 36514166 PMCID: PMC9749243 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00715-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE While eating disorders (EDs) are more commonly diagnosed in females, there is growing awareness that men also experience EDs and may do so in a different way. Difficulties with emotion processing and emotion regulation are believed to be important in EDs, but as studies have involved predominantly female samples, it is unclear whether this is also true for males. METHODS In a sample of 1604 participants (n = 631 males), we assessed emotion processing and emotion regulation in males with EDs (n = 109) and compared results to both females with EDs (n = 220) and males from the general population (n = 522). We also looked at whether emotion processing and emotion regulation difficulties predicted various aspects of eating psychopathology and whether this was moderated by sex. We assessed emotion processing with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, emotion regulation with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and eating psychopathology with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. RESULTS We found that males with ED, like their female counterparts, suffered from emotion processing and emotion regulation deficits. We did find some sex differences, in that males with EDs tended to report more difficulties with their emotions as well as a more externally oriented thinking style compared to females with EDs. Difficulties with emotion processing and emotion regulation were strongly predictive of various aspects of eating psychopathology in both sexes. Importantly, we found that sex moderated the relationship between cognitive reappraisal and eating restraint. As such, low use of reappraisal was found to be associated with higher levels of restraint in females but not in males. DISCUSSION Difficulties with emotion processing and emotion regulation are associated with eating psychopathology in both males and females. Reappraisal was not found to be associated with reduced eating psychopathology in males, suggesting a cautious approach to interventions targeting this strategy. Research around explanatory mechanisms and interventions must adopt a broader viewpoint including those that are traditionally overlooked in EDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Vuillier
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK.
| | - J Joseph
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
| | | | - L May
- Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, Poole, UK
| | - M P Somerville
- UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - A Harrison
- UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - R L Moseley
- Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
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Zancu SA, Dafinoiu I, Enea V. Alexithymia, body image and disordered eating in fashion models and student athletes. Eat Weight Disord 2022; 27:709-716. [PMID: 34021902 DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Fashion models and athletes are considered at risk for eating disorders, but research has produced mixed findings and little insight into psychological risk factors. Body-focused performance is common to both occupations, but emotional risk factors like alexithymia and body-image particularities have not been compared between them. This study aimed to: (1) examine the levels of alexithymia and affective states among female fashion models and athletes as body-performing occupations, and a control group, and (2) compare multidimensional body image and disordered eating among these groups. METHODS Data from 351 females aged 16-30 were compared among three samples: fashion models (n = 88), student athletes (n = 84) and control students (n = 179), who completed measures for alexithymia, affective states, multidimensional body image, and disordered eating. RESULTS Fashion models had significantly lower alexithymia compared with the other groups, and lower negative affect than controls. Positive affect was significantly lower among controls than the other groups. Body image comparisons revealed significantly higher fitness evaluation and orientation in fashion models and athletes compared to controls. Fashion models had significantly higher appearance orientation than the other groups. Student athletes had significantly higher appearance evaluation than controls and higher fitness evaluation than fashion models. Disordered eating did not differ among groups. CONCLUSION Lower alexithymia among fashion models is discussed in the context of emotional labor and artistic public performance. The findings suggest that body-focused performance may have emotional benefits and may drive higher body-image investment and satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, case-control analytic study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Alexandra Zancu
- Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, 3 Toma Cozma Street, Iasi, România.
| | - Ion Dafinoiu
- Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, 3 Toma Cozma Street, Iasi, România
| | - Violeta Enea
- Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, 3 Toma Cozma Street, Iasi, România.
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Krug I, Arroyo MD, Giles S, Dang AB, Kiropoulos L, De Paoli T, Buck K, Treasure J, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M. A new integrative model for the co-occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury behaviours and eating disorder symptoms. J Eat Disord 2021; 9:153. [PMID: 34809723 PMCID: PMC8607624 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-021-00508-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The high co-occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviours and eating disorder (ED) symptoms suggests these conditions share common aetiological processes. We assessed a new integrative model of shared factors for NSSI and ED symptoms, where affect dysregulation, impulsivity, self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between insecure attachment and maladaptive schemas and NSSI and ED symptoms. A further aim of the study was to assess whether the model behaved similarly across a clinical eating disorder (ED) and a community sample. METHOD 123 females with a lifetime ED diagnosis and 531 female individuals from the community completed an online survey, which included measures assessing the variables of interest. A cross-sectional single time point analysis was used. RESULTS Invariance testing indicated that the model was structurally non-invariant (different across groups). The proposed integrative model was a good fit for the ED group, but for the community sample only a revised model reached an acceptable fit. Both attachment and maladaptive schemas, included early in the model, were implicated in the pathways leading to ED and NSSI symptoms in the ED and community groups. In the community group, impulsivity, a mediator, was a shared predictor for NSSI and bulimic symptoms. No other mediating variables were shared by NSSI and ED symptoms in the two groups. Overall, the proposed model explained slightly more variance for the ED group relative to the community group in drive for thinness (R2 = .57 vs .51) and NSSI (R2 = .29 vs .24) but less variance in bulimic symptoms (R2 = .33 vs .39). CONCLUSION We conclude that the current model provides only limited support for explaining the comorbidity between NSSI and ED symptoms. It is vital to consider both common (e.g., attachment and maladaptive schemas) and specific factors (e.g., impulsivity) to better understand the pathways that lead to the co-occurrence of NSSI and ED symptoms. A new integrative model assessed whether emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction were mediators in the relationship between insecure attachment and maladaptive beliefs about the world and the self and subsequent eating disorder and self-harm symptoms. A further aim was to assess whether the proposed model differed between a clinical eating disorder and a community sample. All participants were female and included 123 patients with a lifetime eating disorder and 531 individuals from the community. Participating individuals completed an online survey at one timepoint, which included measures assessing the variables of interest. The findings of the current study indicated that the proposed model was a good match for the clinical eating disorder sample, but for the community sample only a revised model yielded acceptable statistical fit. Both insecure attachment and maladaptive beliefs about the world and the self, included early in the model, were indirectly related to eating disorder and self-harm symptoms for both the eating disorder and the community groups. Impulsivity, a mediator, was the only shared predictor for self-harm, and bulimic symptoms in the community group. We conclude that the current model provides only limited support for explaining the comorbidity between self-harming behaviours and disordered eating symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Krug
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic, Redmond Barry, Level 7, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia.
| | - Mercedes Delgado Arroyo
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic, Redmond Barry, Level 7, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Vall de' Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah Giles
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic, Redmond Barry, Level 7, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia
| | - An Binh Dang
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic, Redmond Barry, Level 7, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia
| | - Litza Kiropoulos
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic, Redmond Barry, Level 7, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia
| | - Tara De Paoli
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic, Redmond Barry, Level 7, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia
| | - Kim Buck
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic, Redmond Barry, Level 7, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia
| | - Janet Treasure
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Section of Eating Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
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Hasan F, Latzer Y, Diedrichs PC, Lewis-Smith H. A qualitative exploration of motivations for fasting and the impact of Ramadan on eating behaviors and body image among young adult Muslim women in the United Kingdom. Eat Behav 2021; 42:101545. [PMID: 34343839 DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Research exploring the impact of fasting in Ramadan on eating behaviors has focused on Muslim-majority countries and has neglected to examine impacts beyond the month when "normal" eating patterns resume. This study aimed to explore the experiences of United Kingdom-residing young adult Muslim women who were fasting in Ramadan to understand its impact on their body image and eating behaviors both during and 1-month following Ramadan. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Muslim women aged between 18 and 35 (Mage = 27.3) at two distinct time-points: during the last week of Ramadan and 1-2 months later. The interviews explored questions related to motivations for fasting, experience of fasting in Ramadan, and eating behaviors and thoughts related to body image and appearance. Thematic Analysis revealed three themes: (1) family and community expectations to fast (2) exertion of control of on eating behaviors and (3) preoccupation with weight and appearance. The results suggest that family and community play a strong role in motivating women to fast during Ramadan, alongside the need to feel a sense of belonging to their community. This can conflict with the pressure and desire to assimilate with Western culture and associated appearance ideals, thus putting women at greater risk of disordered eating and body image concerns. These findings suggest important implications for increased support in the Muslim community, and the need for further research to explore this topic across longer time-points and in different cultural groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farheen Hasan
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
| | - Yael Latzer
- Faculty of Social Wellfair and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Eating Disorders Institution, Rambam, Health care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Helena Lewis-Smith
- Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
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