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Gander M, Lenhart L, Steiger R, Buchheim A, Mangesius S, Birkl C, Haid-Stecher N, Fuchs M, Libal A, Dabkowska-Mika A, Gizewski ER, Sevecke K. Attachment Trauma Is Associated with White Matter Fiber Microstructural Alterations in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa before and after Exposure to Psychotherapeutic and Nutritional Treatment. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050798. [PMID: 37239270 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we explore the role of attachment for microstructural white matter (WM) changes in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) before and after exposure to short-term and nutritional treatment. The case sample consisted of 22 female adolescent inpatients with AN (mean age: 15.2 ± 1.2 years) and the control sample were 18 gender-matched healthy adolescents (mean age: 16.8 ± 0.9 years). We performed a 3T MRI in the patient group during the acute state of AN and after weight restoration (duration: 2.6 ± 1 months) and compared the data to a healthy control group. To classify attachment patterns, we used the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System. In the patient sample, over 50% were classified with an attachment trauma/unresolved attachment status. Prior to treatment exposure, fractional anisotropy (FA) reductions and concordant mean diffusivity (MD) increases were evident in the fornix, the corpus callosum and WM regions of the thalamus, which normalized in the corpus callosum and the fornix post-therapy in the total patient sample (p < 0.002). In the acute state, patients with an attachment trauma demonstrated significant FA decreases compared to healthy controls, but no MD increases, in the corpus callosum and cingulum bilaterally, which remained decreased after therapy. Attachment patterns seem to be associated with region-specific changes of WM alterations in AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- Institute of Psychology, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Lukas Lenhart
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ruth Steiger
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stephanie Mangesius
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Birkl
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nina Haid-Stecher
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Martin Fuchs
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Anna Libal
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Dabkowska-Mika
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elke Ruth Gizewski
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Neuroimaging Research Core Facility, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kathrin Sevecke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tirol Kliniken, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Tanner AB. Unique considerations for the medical care of restrictive eating disorders in children and young adolescents. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:33. [PMID: 36864525 PMCID: PMC9980853 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00759-2] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The medical complications of eating disorders are often approached through an age-neutral lens. However, children and young adolescents may have unique medical complications related to the energy needs and timing of growth and development. Providers caring for patients in this vulnerable age range should understand how to identify, approach, and manage these potential age-related complications. REVIEW Evidence continues to accumulate that increasingly younger patients are being diagnosed with eating disorders. These children and young adolescents have significant risk for unique and potentially irreversible medical complications. Without early identification and treatment, restrictive eating disorders may negatively impact linear growth, bone development and brain maturation in children and young adolescents. Additionally, due to the energy needs of growth and development, unique considerations exist for the use of acute medical stabilization and the identification of patients at risk for refeeding syndrome with initial nutritional rehabilitation. This review presents an approach to the evaluation and management of children and young adolescents with eating disorders. CONCLUSION Children and young adolescents with restrictive eating disorders may have unique medical complications related to the energy needs and timing of linear growth and pubertal development. Significant risk exists for irreversible medical complications of impaired growth, bone, and brain health. Increased awareness of the energy needs for growth and development may improve early recognition, appropriate intervention, and future outcomes for children and young adolescents with restrictive eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna B Tanner
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, 30322, Atlanta, GA, Georgia. .,, Dunwoody, Georgia.
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Stedal K, Scherer R, Touyz S, Hay P, Broomfield C. Research Review: Neuropsychological functioning in young anorexia nervosa: A meta-analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:616-625. [PMID: 34970745 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive inflexibility and compulsive behaviours are commonly observed in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and are often considered to be caused by impairments in executive functioning and visuospatial processing. Despite an increasing number of young individuals presenting with AN, there is a lack of meta-analytic evidence on the neuropsychological functioning in this population. Our primary aim was to review and synthesize the differences in neuropsychological test performance between young people with AN and healthy controls, and to explore potential moderators. METHODS A database search following PRISMA guidelines of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science and Epistemonikos was conducted. Hedges' g served as an effect size indicating the standardized mean differences. We utilized mixed-effects meta-regression and machine learning meta-analyses to identify relevant moderators. RESULTS Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 1333 participants (665 with AN) and 59 effect sizes. Random-effects meta-analyses demonstrated a small and insignificant difference between young individuals with AN and controls ( g¯ = -0.144, 95% CI [-0.328, 0.041]) in overall neuropsychological functioning. However, the difference was significant for the cognitive domains of memory, working memory and visuospatial abilities. Moderator and machine-learning analyses revealed a stronger negative effect in older participants and moderator effects of country and assessment quality. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the significant impact of age on neuropsychological test performance in patients with AN. There is a need for a more widespread inclusion of potentially confounding variables in primary studies as well as instruments specifically targeted at younger populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Stedal
- Regional Department for Eating Disorders, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital Oslo Ullevål, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ronny Scherer
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, Centre for Educational Measurement at the University of Oslo (CEMO), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephen Touyz
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Phillipa Hay
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine Broomfield
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Maier S, Joos A, Tebartz van Elst L, Ebert D, Endres D, Domschke K, Lahmann C, Zeeck A, Runge K, Denzel D, Reisert M, Nickel K. Reduced structural connectivity in the corpus callosum in patients with anorexia nervosa. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2022; 30:341-352. [DOI: 10.1002/erv.2894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Maier
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Andreas Joos
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Ludger Tebartz van Elst
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Dieter Ebert
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Dominique Endres
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Katharina Domschke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Claas Lahmann
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Almut Zeeck
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Kimon Runge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Dominik Denzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Marco Reisert
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Kathrin Nickel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
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Structural brain abnormalities in adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa at both the acute and weight-recovered phase. Brain Imaging Behav 2022; 16:1372-1380. [DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00622-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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