A randomized trial on the efficacy of a 2-month tube feeding regimen in anorexia nervosa: A 1-year follow-up study

Psychological Effects of Nasogastric Tube (NGT) in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review

AIM

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for intensive nutritional care in patients affected with anorexia nervosa (AN) increased. The use of NGT was often used to overcome renutrition difficulties. This systematic review explores the evidence concerning the psychological effects of an enteral nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding on patients with AN.

METHODS

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted on electronic databases, including papers from January 2010 to December 2023. The keywords used combined anorexia nervosa, NGT, nasogastric tube, and tube feeding, with MeSH terms. No language limit was imposed. Reviews were excluded from the search.

RESULTS

A total of 241 studies matched the keywords. Nevertheless, 236 studies were excluded from the review because they did not match the inclusion criteria. A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these, three studies were case series, one was a quantitative study of follow up and one was a qualitative exploratory study. The included studies described the hospitalization of patients with AN treated with a nasogastric tube; among these, only one study focused directly on the psychological correlates of nasogastric tube treatment using interviews with patients and medical staff. Included studies suggest that NGT feeding, even if faced in the first instance with prejudices and fears by patients, parents, and staff, is useful not only for weight increase in treatment-resistant patients with AN, but also alleviates their stress from feeding and, in general, it is psychologically well tolerated. Nevertheless, recent in-depth research on the issue is lacking and the existing has a low methodological quality; thus, many psychological effects of NGT application remain underexplored.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the results suggest good psychological tolerance of the device, the limited data available recommend that more attention should be addressed by the researchers to the psychological consequences of the use of NGT in the treatment of AN since it is a nutrition disorder with prominent psychological roots. Further studies are needed.

Severe hypoglycemia with reduced liver volume as an indicator of end-stage malnutrition in patients with anorexia nervosa: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Hypophosphatemia due to excessive carbohydrate administration is considered the primary pathogenesis of refeeding syndrome. However, its association with liver injury and hypoglycemia, often seen in severe malnutrition before re-nutrition, remains unclear. Autophagy reportedly occurs in the liver of patients with severe malnutrition. This study aimed to clarify the pathophysiology of liver injury and hypoglycemia by focusing on liver volume.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients with anorexia nervosa with a body mass index (BMI) of < 13 kg/m2 were included (median BMI: 10.51 kg/m2 on admission). Liver volume was measured in 36 patients who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT), and the "estimated liver weight/ideal body weight" was used as the liver volume index. Seventeen blood test items were analyzed during the first 60 days.

RESULTS

Liver volume significantly decreased when abdominal CTs were conducted shortly before or after hypoglycemia compared to when the scans were performed during periods without hypoglycemia. Five patients with severe hypoglycemia on days 13-18 after admission had a very low nutritional intake; of them, four showed a marked decrease in liver volume. Severe hypoglycemia was accompanied by low serum triglycerides and liver dysfunction. Patients experiencing hypoglycemia of blood glucose levels < 55 mg/dL (< 3.05 mmol/L) (32 patients; median lowest BMI: 9.45 kg/m2) exhibited significantly poorer blood findings for most of the 17 items, except serum phosphorus and potassium, than did those not experiencing hypoglycemia (16 patients; median lowest BMI: 11.2 kg/m2). All patients with a poor prognosis belonged to the hypoglycemia group. Empirically, initiating re-nutrition at 500 kcal/day (20-25 kcal/kg/day), increasing to 700-800 kcal/day after a week, and then gradually escalating can reduce serious complications following severe hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver volume reduction accompanied by hypoglycemia, low serum triglyceride levels, and liver dysfunction occurs when the body's stored energy sources are depleted and external nutritional intake is inadequate, suggesting that the liver was consumed as a last resort to obtain energy essential for daily survival. This pathophysiology, distinct from refeeding syndrome, indicates the terminal stage of malnutrition and is a risk factor for complications and poor prognosis. In treatment, extremely low nutrient levels should be avoided.

Adding mini meals to a nasogastric refeeding protocol for patients with eating disorders can be achieved on general hospital wards

BACKGROUND

Treatment of medically compromised patients with eating disorders is difficult in general hospital wards. There is currently no consensus on the best feeding method; however, previous research has demonstrated the safety of using enteral feeding. Because an oral diet has benefits on psychological and behavioural pathways, concurrent feeding requires further investigation. The present study aimed to examine acceptability and safety of implementing mini meals to a previously nil-by-mouth 7-day enteral feeding protocol.

METHODS

This was mixed methods research including a retrospective observational study and participant survey. Patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia, between July 2020 and March 2021 were eligible. Eligible participants were provided mini meals from day 5. Type and quantity of meals consumed alongside clinical incident data were collected. The survey examined acceptability of mini meals. Descriptive statistics were used to interpret findings. Content analyses were conducted on survey responses.

RESULTS

Sixty-four participants (95%, n = 57/60 female, 25.2 ± 8.9 years; 75%, n = 45/60 diagnosed with anorexia nervosa) were included. At least half of the participants consumed some or all of the mini meals at each meal period. No clinical incidents were reported. Twenty-six (50%, n = 26/52) surveys were returned. Half (54%, n = 14/26) agreed-strongly agreed that mini meals improved their experience. Eleven participants desired more choice in menu items.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study found that introducing mini meals into an enteral feeding protocol is acceptable and safe for patients with eating disorders. Participants reported benefits in returning to eating; however, some items on the menu require reconsideration to enable increased consumption.

Clinical Outcomes of Refeeding Syndrome: A Systematic Review of High vs. Low-Calorie Diets for the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Over the years, the standard of care for re-alimentation of patients admitted for the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) has been a conservative or cautious approach described as "start low and go slow." These traditional refeeding protocols advocate for a low-calorie diet that restricts carbohydrates, with the primary goal of hypothetically lowering the risk of refeeding syndrome (RFS) and its complication. However, no consensus exists for the optimal inpatient approach to refeeding children and adolescents with AN. There is still some disagreement about what constitutes an ideal pace for nutritional rehabilitation. Varying treatment protocols have emerged across the globe, often reflecting the preferences and biases of individual practitioners and contributing to the lack of a universally accepted protocol for refeeding in AN. Although it is widely accepted that low-caloric refeeding (LCR) is safe for inpatient treatment of AN, this strategy has been shown to have several significant drawbacks, leading to increased criticism of the LCR method. Research from the last decade has led to calls for a more aggressive refeeding protocol, one that suggests a higher caloric intake from the offset. As a result, this research aimed to conduct a systematic review of the existing literature on strategies for refeeding hospitalized pediatric/adolescent patients with AN and related eating disorders. We aimed to compare high-caloric refeeding (HCR) and LCR in terms of weight gain, length of stay, and risk of RFS. We conducted a thorough search of medical databases for abstracts published in English, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and MEDLINE, to find relevant studies published between 2010 and February 2023. Our focus was on articles that evaluated high versus low refeeding protocols in children and adolescents hospitalized for treating AN and related eating disorders. Only articles that reported on at least one of the outcome variables of interest, such as hypophosphatemia, weight gain, RFS, or length of hospital stay, were considered. This review included 20 full-text articles published in the last decade on the HCR protocol in children and adolescents, with a total sample size of 2191 participants. In only one of the 20 studies did researchers find evidence of a true clinical case of RFS. We, therefore, found no evidence that HCR increased the risk of RFS in adolescents, even in those with a very low body mass index (BMI). However, evidence suggests a lower BMI at the time of hospital admission is a better predictor of hypophosphatemia than total caloric intake. In conclusion, based on the evidence from this review, a high-caloric diet or rapid refeeding in children/adolescents suffering from AN may be both safe and effective, with serial laboratory investigations and phosphate supplementation as needed. Hence, more research, particularly, randomized controlled trials, is required to help shape an evidence-based refeeding guideline outlining target calorie intakes and rates of advancement to assist clinicians in the treatment of adolescents with AN and related eating disorders.

The effect of oral refeeding compared with nasogastric refeeding on the quality of care for patients hospitalised with an eating disorder: A systematic review

AIM

The aim of this systematic review was to compare the benefits and harms of nasogastric and oral-based refeeding on the quality of care, including effectiveness, safety, and patient experience, for patients hospitalised with an eating disorder.

METHODS

A systematic search for studies measuring comparative data between nasogastric and oral refeeding methods was conducted in August 2021. Title and abstracts and remaining full texts were screened by both authors. Risk of bias was evaluated using the PEDro scale, and overall quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Seven studies (one randomised controlled trial, five non-randomised studies of interventions, and one qualitative study) with 917 participants were included. There was low certainty evidence that nasogastric refeeding resulted in no difference or a small increase in weekly weight gain, and moderate certainty of greater total weight gain, and very low certainty of increased length of stay compared to oral refeeding. There was no difference or a small increase in discharge weight and body mass index with nasogastric refeeding compared to oral refeeding. No serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

Patients selected for nasogastric refeeding have a longer duration of illness and lower admission weight, making it difficult to determine which refeeding approach is superior. However, the lack of clear difference in weekly weight gain and the lack of reported harms suggests that other factors such as the normalisation of eating behaviour may be taken into account when choosing the most appropriate refeeding method.

Treatment response in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa: a naturalistic, case-control study

PURPOSE

Although a few recent articles describe adults with treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa (TR-AN), no study addresses the specific features of subjects not responding to treatment in the developmental age. This study reports on the clinical and psychopathological variables that distinguish children and adolescents who did not respond to treatment (here "TR-AN") from good-outcome controls, in a multidisciplinary hospital treatment setting.

METHODS

Naturalistic, case-control study conducted on individuals showing lack of response to treatment and good-outcome controls. TR-AN was defined as two or more incomplete admissions and no complete admissions, consistently with studies in adults. Good-outcome was defined as complete first admission, availability for follow-up visit after 6 months, and maintaining at follow-up a %BMI > 70% in the absence of binging or purging in the preceding 3 months. Psychopathological (Eating Disorders Inventory-3 EDI-3; Beck Depression Inventory-II), clinical, and treatment variables at admission were compared. Significant differences in the univariate analyses were included in an exploratory binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Seventy-six patients (30 TR-AN, 46 good-outcome AN controls) were enrolled (mean age 14.9 ± 1.9 years, F = 94.7%). TR-AN individuals had a higher age at admission and higher EDI-3 Eating Disorder Risk (EDRC) scores, were treated less frequently with a nasogastric tube (NGT), and achieved a lower BMI improvement at discharge than good-outcome controls. A predictive model for TR-AN status was found (X² = 19.116; Nagelkerke-R² = 0.478, p < 0.001), and age at admission (OR = 0.460, p = 0.019), EDI-3 EDRC (OR = 0.938, p = 0.043), and NGT (OR = 8.003, p = 0.019) were associated with a TR-AN status.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report on the psychopathological and clinical characteristics of children and adolescents not responding to treatment. These patients showed higher age and eating disorder scores, and were less frequently fed with NGT than controls. Despite the multiple incomplete admissions of our subjects, the short included follow-up limits the possibility for direct comparisons with adult samples of treatment-resistant patients. Thus, the specific features of children and adolescents with TR-AN should be assessed in longitudinal studies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, Observational, case-control study.

Rapid refeeding in anorexia nervosa: A dialectic balance

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of our new rapid refeeding protocol on patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) in our Eating Disorders Program. We hypothesize that the new protocol would lead to a more rapid weight gain and a shorter length of stay, with no effect on medical complications or program completion.

METHOD

This cohort design included consecutive inpatients and day hospital patients admitted to the program with a BMI <18 kg/m² and a diagnosis of AN between 2007 and 2020; N = 326 patients. Main outcomes measured were rate of weight gain and length of stay. Safety indicators included electrolyte disturbances and supplementation required, complications including refeeding syndrome and completion of the program. A p value <.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Total length of stay was 21 days shorter for patients on the rapid refeeding protocol compared to the traditional refeeding protocol. Patients on the new protocol gained 0.21 more kg/week compared to patients on the old protocol. There was no difference in completion rates between programs. Electrolyte imbalances were mild to moderate and easily treated with oral electrolyte supplementation. There were no deaths or cases of refeeding syndrome with either protocol.

DISCUSSION

This is the first Canadian study to assess the effectiveness and safety of rapid refeeding in an adult population. Rapid refeeding protocols can be safely administered and are cost effective. Shorter hospital admissions are desirable to minimize possible regression and dependency on inpatient services and positively impacts patients' quality of life.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

This study advances the idea that rapid refeeding in patients with anorexia nervosa can be administered safely and effectively with close medical monitoring. In addition, rapid refeeding leads to shorter hospital stays, with a cost-savings to the health system. Shorter admissions are desirable to minimize possible regression and dependency on inpatient services and also positively impacts patients' quality of life.

To Improve the Initial Inpatient Management of Adolescents Admitted with Severe Anorexia Nervosa: A Narrative Review and a Convenient Protocol

Inadequate nutritional rehabilitation of severely malnourished adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) increases the risk of medical complications. There is no consensus on best practices for inpatient nutritional rehabilitation and medical stabilization for severe AN. This study aimed to elaborate an admission protocol for adolescents with severe AN based on a comprehensive narrative review of current evidence. A Pubmed search was conducted in July 2017 and updated in August 2020, using the keywords severe AN or eating disorders (ED), management guidelines and adolescent. Relevant references cited in these guidelines were retrieved. A secondary search was conducted using AN or ED and refeeding protocol, refeeding syndrome (RS), hypophosphatemia, hypoglycemia, cardiac monitoring or cardiac complications. Evidence obtained was used to develop the admission protocol. Selective blood tests were proposed during the first three days of nutritional rehabilitation. Higher initial caloric intake is supported by evidence. Continuous nasogastric tube feeding was proposed for patients with a BMI < 12 kg/m2. We monitor hypoglycemia for 72 h. Continuous cardiac monitoring for bradycardia <30 BPM and systematic phosphate supplementation should be considered. Developing protocols is necessary to improve standardization of care. We provide an example of an inpatient admission protocol for adolescents with severe AN.

Restrictive Eating Disorders: Accelerating Treatment Outcomes in the Medical Hospital

Pediatric patients with anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa may present to hospitals with significant vital sign instability or serum laboratory abnormalities necessitating inpatient medical hospitalization. These patients require specialized care, numerous resources, and interdisciplinary collaboration during what can be a protracted admission. Recent evidence informs areas in which care can be accelerated, and published protocols from major children's hospitals are helpful roadmaps to creating a streamlined hospitalization. In our narrative review, we focused on 3 key areas: (1) implementation of a rapid nutritional rehabilitation program; (2) assessment and management of the refeeding syndrome; and (3) early integration of psychoeducation and therapeutic interventions during inpatient hospitalization. A practical review of the literature in these 3 areas will give concrete, actionable information to pediatric hospitalists as they care for young people with restrictive eating disorders.

Short-term Outcomes of the Study of Refeeding to Optimize Inpatient Gains for Patients With Anorexia Nervosa: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

The standard of care for refeeding inpatients with anorexia nervosa, starting with low calories and advancing cautiously, is associated with slow weight gain and protracted hospital stay. Limited data suggest that higher-calorie refeeding improves these outcomes with no increased risk of refeeding syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the short-term efficacy, safety, and cost of lower-calorie vs higher-calorie refeeding for malnourished adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this multicenter randomized clinical trial with prospective follow-up conducted at 2 inpatient eating disorder programs at large tertiary care hospitals, 120 adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 24 years hospitalized with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa and 60% or more of median body mass index were enrolled from February 8, 2016, to March 7, 2019. The primary analysis was a modified intent-to-treat approach.

INTERVENTIONS

Higher-calorie refeeding, beginning at 2000 kcal/d and increasing by 200 kcal/d vs lower-calorie refeeding, beginning at 1400 k/cal and increasing by 200 kcal every other day.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Main outcomes were end-of-treatment outcomes; the primary end point of this trial will be clinical remission over 12 months. Short-term efficacy was defined a priori as time to restore medical stability in the hospital, measured by the following 6 indices: 24-hour heart rate of 45 beats/min or more, systolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or more, temperature of 35.6 °C or more, orthostatic increase in heart rate of 35 beats/min or less, orthostatic decrease in systolic blood pressure of 20 mm Hg or less, and 75% or more of median body mass index for age and sex. The prespecified safety outcome was incidence of electrolyte abnormalities; cost efficacy was defined as savings associated with length of stay.

RESULTS

Because 9 participants withdrew prior to treatment, the modified intention-to-treat analyses included 111 participants (93%; 101 females [91%]; mean [SD] age, 16.4 [2.5] years). Higher-calorie refeeding restored medical stability significantly earlier than lower-calorie refeeding (hazard ratio, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.10-2.53]; P = .01). Electrolyte abnormalities and other adverse events did not differ by group. Hospital stay was 4.0 days shorter (95% CI, -6.1 to -1.9 days) among the group receiving higher-calorie refeeding, which was associated with a savings of $19 056 (95% CI, -$28 819 to -$9293) in hospital charges per participant.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In the first randomized clinical trial in the US to compare refeeding approaches in patients with anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa, higher-calorie refeeding demonstrated short-term efficacy with no increase in safety events during hospitalization.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02488109.

Medical management of eating disorders: an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Eating disorders are associated with numerous medical complications. The aim of this study was to review recent progress in improving the medical management of patients with eating disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

With close medical monitoring and electrolyte supplementation, accelerated refeeding protocols improve weight restoration without increasing the risk of refeeding syndrome. Olanzapine improves weight restoration better than placebo, without leading to adverse metabolic effects seen in individuals not in starvation. Alterations of the gut microbiome in anorexia nervosa have been demonstrated, but their clinical relevance remains unclear.

SUMMARY

Medical complications of eating disorders may facilitate the first contact with health professionals and treatment initiation. Medical complications of anorexia nervosa generally occur due to starvation, malnutrition and their associated physiological effects, whereas medical complications of bulimia nervosa are generally due to purging behaviors. Most medical complications in patients with binge eating disorder are secondary to obesity. Most medical complications of eating disorders can be effectively treated with nutritional management, weight normalization and the termination of purging behaviors. In summary, eating disorders are associated with many medical complications that have to be carefully assessed and managed as early as possible to improve long-term outcomes.

Nutrition Approach for Inpatients With Anorexia Nervosa: Impact of a Clinical Refeeding Guideline

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses the impact of a clinical refeeding guideline on weight restoration, length of stay, rate of refeeding complications, and rehospitalizations.

METHOD

This retrospective study included patient records of 107 participants aged 13-55 years with a diagnosis of AN, admitted for at least 7 days for renutrition before and after introduction of the refeeding guideline. Weight evolution graphs were rated by 2 clinical experts independently. Binary logistic regression models were erected to identify clinical outcomes associated independently with the guideline as well as to control for potential confounding by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics at admission.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients achieving optimal weight gain after the first 2 weeks increased significantly from 6.3% pre-guideline to 41.8% post guideline (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 37.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.77-510.3; P = 0.006). Average length of hospitalization was reduced from 96.7 (SD 48.3) days pre-guideline to 62.2 (SD 45.5) days post guideline (AOR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.01; P = 0.18). None of the patients developed a full refeeding syndrome. There was no significant change in the rate of rehospitalization: 48.5% pre-guideline to 43.2% post guideline (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.36-1.84; P = 0.62).

DISCUSSION

The clinical guideline proved highly effective in bolstering weight gain via intensive refeeding procedures while also being safe. Harmonizing clinical practices improves quality of care for patients with anorexia and, interestingly, may decrease costs by cutting average length of stay by a third without increasing the rehospitalization rate.

Nutritional Management and Outcomes in Malnourished Medical Inpatients: Anorexia Nervosa

BACKGROUND

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder characterised by a physical and psychosocial deterioration due to an altered pattern on the intake and weight control. The severity of the disease is based on the degree of malnutrition. The objective of this article is to review the scientific evidence of the refeeding process of malnourished inpatients with AN; focusing on the clinical outcome.

METHODS

We conducted an extensive search in Medline and Cochrane; on April 22; 2019; using different search terms. After screening all abstracts; we identified 19 papers that corresponded to our inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The article focuses on evidence on the characteristics of malnutrition and changes in body composition; energy and protein requirements; nutritional treatment; physical activity programmes; models of organisation of the nutritional treatment and nutritional support related outcomes in AN patients.

CONCLUSION

Evidence-based standards for clinical practice with clear outcomes are needed to improve the management of these patients and standardise the healthcare process.

The use of enteral nutrition in the treatment of eating disorders: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Enteral nutrition (EN) is frequently used in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN), and less commonly, bulimia nervosa (BN); yet, no standardized guidelines for treatment exist at this time. The aim of this review is to investigate the efficacy of EN in the treatment of eating disorders and make recommendations for clinical practice and future research.

METHODS

An exhaustive literature search of 7 databases was completed. The search strategy combined key terms anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and eating disorders with terms associated with EN. There were no restrictions on publication date or language. Studies that assessed the effect of EN on weight restoration, refeeding syndrome, and binge/purge behaviors in the treatment of AN and BN were included.

RESULTS

Of 73 full-text articles reviewed, 22 met inclusion criteria. Nineteen studies reported that significant short-term weight gain was achieved when EN was used for refeeding malnourished AN patients; however, results varied for the six studies reporting on long-term weight gain, maintenance, and recovery. In studies with a comparator, no significant differences were found between the EN and oral refeeding cohorts regarding gastrointestinal disturbance, refeeding syndrome, or electrolyte abnormalities. Five studies examined the effect of EN on binge/purge behaviors, suggesting that temporary exclusive EN decreases the frequency and severity of binge/purge episodes.

CONCLUSION

Although EN is an essential life-saving treatment in severe cases of AN, it does not guarantee long-term success or recovery. The results of this systematic review highlight the need for prospective controlled trials with adequate sample sizes to make comparisons between specific feeding methods, formulations, and defined short and long-term outcomes. Evidence-based standards for clinical practice are needed with specific guidelines for best results for AN and BN treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

I, systematic review.

Treatment outcomes for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

To determine the impact of specialized treatments, relative to comparator treatments, upon the weight and psychological symptoms of anorexia nervosa (AN) at end-of-treatment (EOT) and follow-up.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) between January 1980 and December 2017 that reported the effects of at least two treatments on AN were screened. Weight and psychological symptoms were analyzed separately for each study. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed, and studies were assessed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria and Cochrane risk of bias tool.

RESULTS

We identified 35 eligible RCTs, comprising data from 2524 patients. Meta-analyses revealed a significant treatment effect on weight outcomes at EOT [g = 0.16, 95% CI (0.05-0.28), p = 0.006], but not at follow-up [g = 0.11, 95% CI (-0.04 to 0.27), p = 0.15]. There was no significant treatment effect on psychological outcomes at either EOT [g = -0.03, 95% CI (-0.14 to 0.08), p = 0.63], or follow-up [g = -0.001, 95% CI (-0.11 to 0.11), p = 0.98]. There was no strong evidence of publication bias or significant moderator effects for illness duration, mean age, year of publication, comparator group category, or risk of bias (all p values &gt; 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Current specialized treatments are more adept than comparator interventions at imparting change in weight-based AN symptoms at EOT, but not at follow-up. Specialized treatments confer no advantage over comparator interventions in terms of psychological symptoms. Future precision treatment efforts require a specific focus on the psychological symptoms of AN.

Medication in AN: A Multidisciplinary Overview of Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews

Drugs are widely prescribed for anorexia nervosa in the nutritional, somatic, and psychiatric fields. There is no systematic overview in the literature, which simultaneously covers all these types of medication. The main aims of this paper are (1) to offer clinicians an overview of the evidence-based data in the literature concerning the medication (psychotropic drugs and medication for somatic and nutritional complications) in the field of anorexia nervosa since the 1960s, (2) to draw practical conclusions for everyday practise and future research. Searches were performed on three online databases, namely MEDLINE, Epistemonikos and Web of Science. Papers published between September 2011 and January 2019 were considered. Evidence-based data were identified from meta-analyses, if there were none, from systematic reviews, and otherwise from trials (randomized or if not open-label studies). Evidence-based results are scarce. No psychotropic medication has proved efficacious in terms of weight gain, and there is only weak data suggesting it can alleviate certain psychiatric symptoms. Concerning nutritional and somatic conditions, while there is no specific, approved medication, it seems essential not to neglect the interest of innovative therapeutic strategies to treat multi-organic comorbidities. In the final section we discuss how to use these medications in the overall approach to the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

Enteral Nutrition via Nasogastric Tube for Refeeding Patients With Anorexia Nervosa: A Systematic Review

Weight restoration is an important first step in treating patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), because it is essential for medical stabilization and reversal of long-term complications. Tube feeding may help facilitate weight restoration, but its role in treatment remains unclear. This study aimed to review the literature describing the efficacy, safety, tolerance, and long-term effects of nasogastric (NG) refeeding for patients with AN. Four electronic databases were systematically searched through May 2018. Boolean search terms included "anorexia nervosa," "refeeding," and "nasogastric tube feeding." Ten studies were eligible for inclusion: 8 retrospective chart reviews, 1 prospective cohort, and 1 randomized controlled trial. Nine of the studies were performed in-hospital. In 8 studies, NG nutrition resulted in an average rate of weight gain exceeding 1 kg/wk. In 4 of 5 studies including an oral-only control group, mean weekly weight gain and caloric intake were significantly higher in tube-fed patients. Six studies provided prophylactic phosphate supplementation, all with <1% occurrence rate of refeeding hypophosphatemia. Seven studies reported on other physiological disturbances, 6 evaluated medical and gastrointestinal side effects, 3 considered psychological outcomes, and 4 assessed patients postdischarge. Results indicated that NG feeding was not associated with an increased risk for adverse outcomes. Overall, in these studies, NG nutrition was considered safe and well tolerated, and effectively increased caloric intake and rate of weight gain in patients with AN. However, results are limited by weaknesses in study designs, and more rigorous methods are needed for development of evidence-based, standardized refeeding protocols.

[Treating the somatic complications of anorexia]

Anorexia can cause serious somatic complications, linked to undernutrition or associated pathological behaviours. The care pathway drawn up by a multi-discipline team is a real therapeutic challenge. Oral nutritional supplements, enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition are three possible forms of nutritional assistance.

Outcomes of an inpatient refeeding protocol in youth with Anorexia Nervosa and atypical Anorexia Nervosa at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

BACKGROUND

Historically, inpatient protocols have adopted relatively conservative approaches to refeeding in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) in order to reduce the risk of refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal constellation of symptoms. However, increasing evidence suggests that patients with AN can tolerate higher caloric prescriptions during treatment, which may result in prevention of initial weight loss, shorter hospital stays, and less exposure to the effects of severe malnutrition. Therefore the present study sought to examine the effectiveness of a more accelerated refeeding protocol in an inpatient AN and atypical AN sample.

METHODS

Participants were youth (ages 10-22) with AN (n = 113) and atypical AN (n = 16) who were hospitalized for medical stabilization. A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess changes in calories, weight status (percentage of median BMI, %mBMI), and indicators of refeeding syndrome, specifically hypophosphatemia, during hospitalization. Weight was assessed again approximately 4 weeks after discharge.

RESULTS

No cases of refeeding syndrome were observed, though 47.3 % of participants evidenced hypophosphatemia during treatment. Phosphorous levels were monitored in all participants, and 77.5 % were prescribed supplemental phosphorous at the time of discharge. Higher rates of caloric changes were predictive of greater changes in %mBMI during hospitalization. Rates of caloric and weight change were not related to an increased likelihood of re-admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that a more accelerated approach to inpatient refeeding in youth with AN and atypical AN can be safely implemented and is not associated with refeeding syndrome, provided there is close monitoring and correction of electrolytes. These findings suggest that this approach has the potential to decrease length of stay and burden associated with inpatient hospitalization, while supporting continued progress after hospitalization.

Applying neurobiology to the treatment of adults with anorexia nervosa

BACKGROUND

Anorexia nervosa is a severe, biologically based brain disorder with significant medical complications. It is critical that new, effective treatments are developed to interrupt the persistent course of the illness due to the medical and psychological sequelae. Several psychosocial, behavioral and pharmacologic interventions have been investigated in adult anorexia nervosa; however, evidence shows that their impact is weak and treatment effects are generally small.

METHOD

This paper describes a new neurobiological anorexia nervosa model that shifts focus from solely external influences, such as social and family, to include internal influences that integrate genetic and neurobiological contributions, across the age span. The model serves as a theoretical structure for a new, five-day treatment, outlined in this paper, targeting anorexia nervosa temperament, which integrates neurobiological dimensions into evidence-based treatment interventions. The treatment is in two phases. Phase I is a five day, 40 hour treatment for anorexia nervosa adults. Phase II is the follow-up and is currently being developed.

RESULTS

Preliminary qualitative acceptability data on 37 adults with anorexia nervosa and 60 supports (e.g., spouses, parents, aunts, friends, partners, children of anorexia nervosa adults) are promising from Phase I. Clients with anorexia nervosa and their supports report that learning neurobiological facts improved their understanding of the illness and helped equip them with better tools to manage anorexia nervosa traits and symptoms. In addition, nutritional knowledge changed significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first neurobiologically based, five-day treatment for adults with anorexia nervosa and their supports. It is a new model that outlines underlying genetic and neurobiological contributions to anorexia nervosa that serves as a foundation to treat both traits and symptoms. Preliminary qualitative findings are promising, with both clients and supports reporting that the neurobiological treatment approach helped them better understand the illness, while better conceptualizing how to respond to their traits and manage their symptoms. Data in Phase I shows promise as a neurobiologically based intervention for anorexia nervosa, and it serves as a foundation for the development of Phase II. Evidence of ongoing program efficacy will be described as data are reported on Phase II.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT NCT02852538 Registered 1 August 2016.

Nasogastric Tube Feeding for Individuals With Anorexia Nervosa: An Integrative Review

BACKGROUND

The use of nasogastric (NG) feeding in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) is endorsed by national professional organizations; however, no guidelines currently exist.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this review were to identify and evaluate outcomes of NG feedings for individuals with AN and to develop recommendations for future research, policy, and practice.

DESIGN

An integrative review of the research literature was conducted.

RESULTS

Of the 19 studies reviewed, all indicated short-term weight gain following NG feeding. Four studies examined adherence; nearly 30% of subjects were nonadherent as evidenced by tube manipulation. Seven studies reported psychiatric outcomes, suggesting NG feeding reduces eating disorder behaviors but not overall symptomology.

CONCLUSIONS

NG feeding promotes short-term weight gain; however, long-term outcomes are poorly understood. Future research, using rigorous methods, is still needed to inform practice.

Neurobiologically informed treatment for adults with anorexia nervosa: a novel approach to a chronic disorder

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe and debilitating disorder with significant medical and psychological sequelae. To date, there are no effective treatments for adults, resulting in high rates of chronicity, morbidity, and mortality. Recent advances in brain imaging research have led to an improved understanding of etiology and specific neurobiological mechanisms underlying symptoms. Despite this, there are no treatments focused on targeting symptoms using this empirically supported mechanistic understanding of the illness. Updated treatment approaches focused on targeting neurobiological mechanisms underlying core AN symptomatology are necessary to improve treatment out-comes for this population. Neurobiologically Enhanced With Family Eating Disorder Trait Response Treatment (NEW FED TR) is a neurobiologically informed treatment targeting key temperament constructs associated with the illness through the delivery of psychoeducation and skills training to patients and nominated carers.

A systematic review of approaches to refeeding in patients with anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVE

Given the importance of weight restoration for recovery in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), we examined approaches to refeeding in adolescents and adults across treatment settings.

METHODS

Systematic review of PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Clinical Trials databases (1960-2015) using terms refeeding, weight restoration, hypophosphatemia, anorexia nervosa, anorexia, and anorexic.

RESULTS

Of 948 screened abstracts, 27 met these inclusion criteria: participants had AN; reproducible refeeding approach; weight gain, hypophosphatemia or cognitive/behavioral outcomes. Twenty-six studies (96%) were observational/prospective or retrospective and performed in hospital. Twelve studies published since 2010 examined approaches starting with higher calories than currently recommended (≥1400 kcal/d). The evidence supports 8 conclusions: 1) In mildly and moderately malnourished patients, lower calorie refeeding is too conservative; 2) Both meal-based approaches or combined nasogastric+meals can administer higher calories; 3) Higher calorie refeeding has not been associated with increased risk for the refeeding syndrome under close medical monitoring with electrolyte correction; 4) In severely malnourished inpatients, there is insufficient evidence to change the current standard of care; 5) Parenteral nutrition is not recommended; 6) Nutrient compositions within recommended ranges are appropriate; 7) More research is needed in non-hospital settings; 8) The long-term impact of different approaches is unknown;

DISCUSSION

Findings support higher calorie approaches to refeeding in mildly and moderately malnourished patients under close medical monitoring, however the safety, long-term outcomes, and feasibility outside of hospital have not been established. Further research is also needed on refeeding approaches in severely malnourished patients, methods of delivery, nutrient compositions and treatment settings.

First results of a refeeding program in a psychiatric intensive care unit for patients with extreme anorexia nervosa

BACKGROUND

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with a high mortality rate. This study describes a compulsory re-feeding program established in Munich for extremely underweight patients.

METHODS

The contract between the patient and the therapeutic team included mandatory inpatient status, establishment of guardianship and compulsory re-feeding with a percutaneous gastric feeding tube, as indicated. The predefined target was a body mass index (BMI) of 17 kg/m(2). Data on the first 68 patients with AN are presented.

RESULTS

65 (95.6%) patients were female and mean age at admission was 26.5 ± 8.5 years. BMI increased from 12.3 ± 1.4 kg/m(2) at admission to 16.7 ± 1.7 kg/m(2) at discharge. Thirty-two (47.1%) patients had the restrictive subtype (ANR) and 36 (52.9%) had the binging and purging subtype (ANBP). Duration of illness before admission (p = .004), days of treatment until discharge (p = .001) and weight increase (p = .02) were significantly different between subgroups in favor of patients with ANR. Also, seasonal differences could be found. Comparison of feeding methods showed that percutaneous tube feeding was superior. Almost half of the patients were treated with psychotropic medication. To date, however, the number of patients included in this program is too small to assess rare complications of this acute treatment program and long term outcomes of AN.

CONCLUSIONS

An intensive care program for severely ill AN patients has been successfully established. Besides averting physical harm in the short term, this program was designed to enable these patients to participate in more sophisticated psychotherapeutic programs afterwards. To our knowledge, this is the first such program that regularly uses percutaneous feeding tubes.

Inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disease. Choice of acute inpatient care for AN is driven by the severity of symptoms and the level of risk to the patient. Inpatient hospitalization of patients with AN typically includes a behavioral weight gain protocol that is designed to address the core features of the disorder: weight, appetite, and distorted thoughts and behavior. Some add-on treatments may also be included in the inpatient treatment model and may have potential benefits, including faster or greater weight gain; such treatments include psychotherapy, psychoeducation, pharmacological treatment, and nutritional replacement.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to systematically review randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that have compared the efficacy of different forms of add-on treatment delivered during admission to a 24-hour hospital and to summarize the existing data regarding weight gain associated with such pharmacological, medical, and psychological interventions.

METHODS

Systematic electronic and manual searches were conducted to identify published RCTs concerning inpatient treatment of AN. Weight gain was used as the main outcome variable.

RESULTS

Overall, no significant increase in weight recovery was reported with atypical antipsychotics compared to placebo or therapy as usual. Only one study showed slight benefits in young patients during hospitalization (d=0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.09-1.64). No significant effects on weight recovery were found for antidepressants (d=-0.10; 95% CI=-0.63-0.42). In addition, none of the add-on psychotherapy techniques that were evaluated demonstrated superiority compared with control interventions in the inpatient setting. Cyclic enteral nutrition was studied in one RCT in which it demonstrated superiority compared to oral refeeding only (d=0.97; 95% CI=0.51-1.47). Other less common treatments such as bright light therapy and lithium carbonate were not found to produce additional significant weight improvement compared with placebo.

CONCLUSION

Most add-on treatments during the acute inpatient phase of AN treatment are not effective in increasing weight recovery. Long-term follow-up studies after the acute treatment phase are needed to make evidence-based recommendations.

Comparison between enteral nutrition and intravenous hyperalimentation in patients with eating disorders: results from the Japanese diagnosis procedure combination database

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorders (EDs) are some of the most common chronic disorders in adolescent girls, and have some of the worst prognoses among psychiatric diseases. However, reported data on mortality and morbidity of ED patients are scarce, and no previous studies have compared the short-term outcomes of enteral nutrition (EN) and intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) in patients with EDs.

METHOD

Using the Diagnostic Procedure Combination database, a national inpatient database in Japan, we searched for ED patients who received EN or IVH. We investigated the backgrounds, complications, and in-hospital mortality for all ED patients. We compared the length of stay between the EN and IVH groups using the Cox regression model. In-hospital mortality was compared between the groups using propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting.

RESULTS

We identified 3,611 patients with EDs from 540 hospitals. The mean body mass index was 13.1 ± 1.9 kg/m(2); 41 (1.1 %) patients died. The mean length of stay was 61.7 days. Compared with the EN-alone group (n = 634), the IVH-alone group (n = 278) showed significantly higher proportions of sepsis (0.5 vs. 5.8 %; p < 0.001) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (0.5 vs. 2.9 %; p = 0.005). The Cox regression showed no significant difference in hospital discharge between the two groups. Propensity-matched analysis evidenced lower in-hospital mortality in the EN group than the IVH group (0.4 vs. 3.0 %; p = 0.019).

DISCUSSION

ED patients treated with IVH were significantly more likely to have higher in-hospital mortality and morbidity than those receiving EN.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of eating disorders

OBJECTIVES

This clinical practice guideline for treatment of DSM-5 feeding and eating disorders was conducted as part of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) Project 2013-2014.

METHODS

The CPG was developed in accordance with best practice according to the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. Literature of evidence for treatments of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), other specified and unspecified eating disorders and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) was sourced from the previous RANZCP CPG reviews (dated to 2009) and updated with a systematic review (dated 2008-2013). A multidisciplinary working group wrote the draft CPG, which then underwent expert, community and stakeholder consultation, during which process additional evidence was identified.

RESULTS

In AN the CPG recommends treatment as an outpatient or day patient in most instances (i.e. in the least restrictive environment), with hospital admission for those at risk of medical and/or psychological compromise. A multi-axial and collaborative approach is recommended, including consideration of nutritional, medical and psychological aspects, the use of family based therapies in younger people and specialist therapist-led manualised based psychological therapies in all age groups and that include longer-term follow-up. A harm minimisation approach is recommended in chronic AN. In BN and BED the CPG recommends an individual psychological therapy for which the best evidence is for therapist-led cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). There is also a role for CBT adapted for internet delivery, or CBT in a non-specialist guided self-help form. Medications that may be helpful either as an adjunctive or alternative treatment option include an antidepressant, topiramate, or orlistat (the last for people with comorbid obesity). No specific treatment is recommended for ARFID as there are no trials to guide practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific evidence based psychological and pharmacological treatments are recommended for most eating disorders but more trials are needed for specific therapies in AN, and research is urgently needed for all aspects of ARFID assessment and management.

EXPERT REVIEWERS

Associate Professor Susan Byrne, Dr Angelica Claudino, Dr Anthea Fursland, Associate Professor Jennifer Gaudiani, Dr Susan Hart, Ms Gabriella Heruc, Associate Professor Michael Kohn, Dr Rick Kausman, Dr Sarah Maguire, Ms Peta Marks, Professor Janet Treasure and Mr Andrew Wallis.

Refeeding hypophosphatemia in hospitalized adolescents with anorexia nervosa: a position statement of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

Refeeding hypophosphatemia in hospitalized adolescents with anorexia nervosa is correlated with degree of malnutrition. Therefore, when initiating nutritional rehabilitation, clinicians should have a heightened awareness of the possibility of refeeding hypophosphatemia in severely malnourished patients (<70% median body mass index).

A systematic review of the frequency, duration, type and effect of involuntary treatment for people with anorexia nervosa, and an analysis of patient characteristics

OBJECTIVE

Involuntary treatment of anorexia nervosa is controversial and costly. A better understanding of the conditions that determine involuntary treatment, as well as the effect of such treatment is needed in order to adequately assess the legitimacy of this model of care. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency and duration of involuntary treatment, the characteristics of this group of patients, the kind of involuntary actions that are applied and the effect of such actions.

REVIEW

Relevant databases were systematically searched for studies investigating the involuntary treatment of individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.

RESULTS

The studies included in the review contained people treated in an inpatient setting for severe or severe and enduring anorexia nervosa. People that were treated involuntarily were characterised by a more severe psychiatric load. The levels of eating disorder pathology between involuntary and voluntary groups were similar and the outcome of involuntary treatment was comparable in terms of symptom reduction to that of voluntary treatment.

CONCLUSION

Despite inconsistent findings, the comparable levels of eating disorder pathology observed between involuntary and voluntary patient-groups together with findings of higher co-morbidity, more preadmissions, longer duration of illness and more incidences of self-harm for involuntary patients suggest that involuntary treatment is not a reaction to the severity of eating disorder symptoms alone, but is most likely a response to the complexity of the patient's situation as a whole.

Update on the treatment of anorexia nervosa: review of clinical trials, practice guidelines and emerging interventions

BACKGROUND

Anorexia nervosa is a potentially deadly psychiatric illness that develops predominantly in females around puberty but is increasingly being recognized as also affecting boys and men and women across the lifespan. The aim of this environmental scan is to provide an overview of best practices in anorexia nervosa treatment across the age spectrum.

METHOD

A triangulation approach was used. First, a detailed review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for anorexia nervosa published between 1980 and 2011 was conducted; second, clinical practice guidelines were consulted and reviewed; third, information about RCTs currently underway was sourced. This approach facilitated a comprehensive overview, which addressed the extant evidence base, recent advances in evidence and improvements in treatment, and future directions.

RESULTS

The evidence base for the treatment of anorexia nervosa is advancing, albeit unevenly. Evidence points to the benefit of family-based treatment for youth. For adults no specific approach has shown superiority and, presently, a combination of renourishment and psychotherapy such as specialist supportive clinical management, cognitive behavioral therapy, or interpersonal psychotherapy is recommended. RCTs have neither sufficiently addressed the more complex treatment approaches seen in routine practice settings, such as multidisciplinary treatment or level of care, nor specifically investigated treatment in ethnically diverse populations. Methodological challenges that hinder progress in controlled research for anorexia nervosa are explained.

CONCLUSIONS

The review highlights evidence-based and promising treatment modalities for anorexia nervosa and presents a triangulated analysis including controlled research, practice guidelines, and emerging treatments to inform and support clinical decision making.

Higher calorie diets increase rate of weight gain and shorten hospital stay in hospitalized adolescents with anorexia nervosa

PURPOSE

Current recommendations for refeeding in anorexia nervosa (AN) are conservative, beginning around 1,200 calories to avoid refeeding syndrome. We previously showed poor weight gain and long hospital stay using this approach and hypothesized that a higher calorie approach would improve outcomes.

METHODS

Adolescents hospitalized for malnutrition due to AN were included in this quasi-experimental study comparing lower and higher calories during refeeding. Participants enrolled between 2002 and 2012; higher calories were prescribed starting around 2008. Daily prospective measures included weight, heart rate, temperature, hydration markers and serum phosphorus. Participants received formula only to replace refused food. Percent Median Body Mass Index (%MBMI) was calculated using 50th percentile body mass index for age and sex. Unpaired t-tests compared two groups split at 1,200 calories.

RESULTS

Fifty-six adolescents with mean (±SEM) age 16.2 (±.3) years and admit %MBMI 79.2% (±1.5%) were hospitalized for 14.9 (±.9) days. The only significant difference between groups (N = 28 each) at baseline was starting calories (1,764 [±60] vs. 1,093 [±28], p < .001). Participants on higher calories had faster weight gain (.46 [±.04] vs. .26 [±.03] %MBMI/day, p < .001), greater daily calorie advances (122 [±8] vs. 98 [±6], p = .024), shorter hospital stay (11.9 [±1.0] vs. 17.6 [±1.2] days, p < .001), and a greater tendency to receive phosphate supplementation (12 vs. 8 participants, p = .273).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher calorie diets produced faster weight gain in hospitalized adolescents with AN as compared with the currently recommended lower calorie diets. No cases of the refeeding syndrome were seen using phosphate supplementation. These findings lend further support to the move toward more aggressive refeeding in AN.

A review of feeding methods used in the treatment of anorexia nervosa

BACKGROUND

Clear evidence based guidelines on the best and safest method of achieving and maintaining normal body weight during inpatient treatment of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) are currently not available. Oral feeding with food alone, high-energy liquid supplements, nasogastric feeding and parenteral nutrition all have the potential to achieve weight gain in the treatment of AN but the advantages and disadvantages of each method have not been comprehensively evaluated. A literature search was undertaken to identify papers describing feeding methods used during inpatient treatment of AN. The selection criteria searched for papers that described the feeding method; and reported weight change variables such as admission and discharge weight in kilograms, or Body Mass Index; or weight change over the course of inpatient treatment.

RESULTS

Twenty-six papers were identified, describing a total of 37 samples with a mean sample size of 58.9 participants, and a range from 6 to 318. The majority (84.6%) of papers were observational cohorts and retrospective chart reviews. The most common feeding method described was nasogastric feeding and food, then high-energy liquid supplements and food.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited evidence on the efficacy of feeding methods used in the refeeding and nutritional rehabilitation of AN, therefore no conclusion can be made about the most effective method of achieving weight gain during inpatient treatment. While there are a number of papers exploring this issue there is no consistency in the way the information is reported to enable comparisons between the different methods. There is an urgent need for research in this area to guide decision-making in the inpatient management, refeeding and nutritional rehabilitation of AN.

A prospective examination of weight gain in hospitalized adolescents with anorexia nervosa on a recommended refeeding protocol

PURPOSE

Current refeeding recommendations for adolescents hospitalized with anorexia nervosa (AN) are conservative, starting with low calories and advancing slowly to avoid refeeding syndrome. The purpose of this study was to examine weight change and clinical outcomes in hospitalized adolescents with AN on a recommended refeeding protocol.

METHODS

Adolescents aged 13.1-20.5 years were followed during hospitalization for AN. Weight, vital signs, electrolytes, and 24-hour fluid balance were measured daily. Percent median body mass index (%MBMI) was calculated as 50th percentile BMI for age and gender. Calories were prescribed on admission and were increased every other day.

RESULTS

Thirty-five subjects with a mean (SD) age of 16.2 (1.9) years participated over 16.7 (6.4) days. Calories increased from 1,205 (289) to 2,668 (387). No subjects had refeeding syndrome; 20% had low serum phosphorus. Percent MBMI increased from 80.1 (11.5) to 84.5 (9.6); overall gain was 2.10 (1.98) kg. However, 83% of subjects initially lost weight. Mean %MBMI did not increase significantly until day 8. Higher calories prescribed at baseline were significantly associated with faster weight gain (p = .003) and shorter hospital stay (p = .030) in multivariate regression models adjusted for %MBMI and lowest heart rate on admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalized adolescents with AN demonstrated initial weight loss and slow weight gain on a recommended refeeding protocol. Higher calorie diets instituted at admission predicted faster weight gain and shorter hospital stay. These findings support the development of more aggressive feeding strategies in adolescents hospitalized with AN. Further research is needed to identify caloric and supplementation regimens to maximize weight gain safely while avoiding refeeding syndrome.

Efficacy of tube feeding in binge-eating/vomiting patients: a 2-month randomized trial with 1-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

In many binge-eating/vomiting patients, abstinence could not be obtained from classical treatments. Since the authors showed that tube feeding (TF) reduced such episodes in anorexia nervosa (AN)-hospitalized patients, they carried out a randomized trial on the efficacy of TF plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) vs CBT alone in AN and bulimia nervosa adult outpatients.

METHODS

The authors randomly assigned 103 ambulatory patients to receive 16 sessions of CBT alone (n = 51) or CBT plus 2 months of TF (n = 52). The main goal was abstinence of binge-eating/vomiting episodes. Other criteria were gains in fat-free mass and muscle mass improvements in nutrition markers, and quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) scores. Evaluations were performed at 1, 2 (end of treatment), 5, 8, and 14 months (analysis of variance).

RESULTS

TF patients were rapidly and more frequently abstinent at the end of treatment (2 months) than the CBT patients: 81% vs 29% (P < .001). Fat-free mass, biological markers, depressive state (-58% vs -26%), anxiety (-48% vs -15%), and quality of life (+42% vs +13%) were more improved in the TF group than in the CBT group (P < .05). One year later, more TF patients remained abstinent (68% vs 27%, P = .02); they were less anxious, were less depressed, and had better quality of life than the CBT patients (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

TF combined with CBT offered better results than CBT alone.

World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders

OBJECTIVES

The treatment of eating disorders is a complex process that relies not only on the use of psychotropic drugs but should include also nutritional counselling, psychotherapy and the treatment of the medical complications, where they are present. In this review recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED)) are presented, based on the available literature.

METHODS

The guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders are based on studies published between 1977 and 2010. A search of the literature included: anorexia nervosa bulimia nervosa, eating disorder and binge eating disorder. Many compounds have been studied in the therapy of eating disorders (AN: antidepressants (TCA, SSRIs), antipsychotics, antihistaminics, prokinetic agents, zinc, Lithium, naltrexone, human growth hormone, cannabis, clonidine and tube feeding; BN: antidepressants (TCA, SSRIs, RIMA, NRI, other AD), antiepileptics, odansetron, d-fenfluramine Lithium, naltrexone, methylphenidate and light therapy; BED: antidepressants (TCA, SSRIs, SNRIs, NRI), antiepileptics, baclofen, orlistat, d-fenfluramine, naltrexone).

RESULTS

In AN 20 randomized controlled trials (RCT) could be identified. For zinc supplementation there is a grade B evidence for AN. For olanzapine there is a category grade B evidence for weight gain. For the other atypical antipsychotics there is grade C evidence. In BN 36 RCT could be identified. For tricyclic antidepressants a grade A evidence exists with a moderate-risk-benefit ratio. For fluoxetine a category grade A evidence exists with a good risk-benefit ratio. For topiramate a grade 2 recommendation can be made. In BED 26 RCT could be identified. For the SSRI sertraline and the antiepileptic topiramate a grade A evidence exists, with different recommendation grades.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional research is needed for the improvement of the treatment of eating disorders. Especially for anorexia nervosa there is a need for further pharmacological treatment strategies.

Use of gastrostomy tubes in children and adolescents with eating disorders and related illnesses

PURPOSE

The aim of this case series was to describe five youths with psychiatric illnesses who underwent feeding tube placement as part of their treatment.

METHODS

The database of a Canadian academic tertiary care eating disorder program was used to identify patients with feeding tubes.

RESULTS

Five patients with feeding tubes were identified in the database of more than 600 patients. Of the five patients, two had anorexia nervosa and three suffered from food refusal as a result of a psychiatric illness unrelated to body image issues. For each patient, the tube was placed only after standard methods of treatment had failed, including repeated hospitalizations and in two cases, residential treatment. The primary goal of placing the tube was to allow for outpatient management of the patient. In all five cases, the healthy weight was restored, and four of the five patients experienced a significant improvement in independent eating behavior. Four of the five patients were found to have had their tube removed when this article was being written. None of the patients required further hospitalizations and no serious relapses were found to have occurred.

CONCLUSION

This case series demonstrates that gastrostomy tube feeding can be an effective intervention to allow patients with eating disorders to be treated as outpatients. The limitations of this study include the small study size, the retrospective nature of the study, and the short follow-up after tube removal. Further study is needed to evaluate the psychological effects of enterostomy feeds in patients and their families.

Detection of eating disorders in patients: validity and reliability of the French version of the SCOFF questionnaire

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although eating disorders prevalence is increasing, they are often under diagnosed in cases of unspecific signs of malnutrition. Screening scales may allow earlier diagnosis and nutritional intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the French version (SCOFF-F) of the SCOFF questionnaire for the detection of eating disorders among a female patient population referred to a clinical nutrition unit.

METHODS

After answering the 5 dichotomous questions of the paper version of SCOFF-F, patients were evaluated by one eating disorders specialist blinded to questionnaire results, using the MINI and Diagnosis and Statistical Manual for Mental diseases (DSM-IV) criteria as a gold standard.

RESULTS

Patients with anorexia nervosa (n = 67) and with bulimia nervosa (n = 45) were assessed. Age-matched healthy female students (n = 114) served as control group. At a cut-off of two positive responses, the sensibility, specificity and the area under the curve of SCOFF-F were 94.6%, 94.7% and 97.9% respectively. Cohen's kappa coefficient between SCOFF-F and MINI results was 89%.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study confirm the reliability of SCOFF-F as a screening and diagnostic-facilitating test for eating disorders in a French-speaking female patient population. SCOFF-F should help professionals in clinical nutrition to achieve earlier diagnosis and care of eating disorder patients.

Refeeding syndrome influences outcome of anorexia nervosa patients in intensive care unit: an observational study

Introduction

Data on the epidemiology and management of anorexia nervosa (AN) in the intensive care unit (ICU) are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality of AN in French ICUs.

Methods

We randomly selected 30 ICUs throughout France. Thereafter, we retrospectively analyzed all patients with AN admitted to any of these 30 ICUs between May 2006 and May 2008. We considered demographic data, diagnosis at admission and complications occurring during the stay, focusing on refeeding syndrome and management of refeeding.

Results

Eleven of the 30 ICUs participated in the retrospective study, featuring 68 patients, including 62 women. Average body mass index at the admission was 12 ± 3 kg/m2. Twenty one were mechanically ventilated, mainly for neurological reasons. The reported average calorie intake was 22.3 ± 13 kcal/kg/24 h. Major diagnoses at admission were metabolic problems, refeeding survey and voluntary drug intoxication and infection. The most common complications were metabolic, hematological, hepatic, and infectious events, of which 10% occurred during refeeding. Seven patients developed refeeding syndrome. At day one, the average calorie intake was higher for patients who developed refeeding syndrome (23.2 ± 5 Kcal/kg/j; n = 7) versus patients without refeeding syndrome (14.1 ± 3 Kcal/kg/j; n = 61) P = 0.02. Seven patients died, two from acute respiratory distress syndrome and five from multiorgan-failure associated with major hydroelectrolytic problems.

Conclusions

The frequency of AN in ICU patients is very low and the crude mortality in this group is about 10%. Prevention and early-detection of refeeding syndrome is the key point.

[Tube feeding at home in anorexia nervosa patients]

INTRODUCTION

In the aim to explore the efficacy of tube feeding (TF) in ambulatory anorexia nervosa (AN) patients, we prospectively treated 60 AN patients by tube feeding (TF) at home, using a nasogastric tube.

METHODS

Nutritional (clinical, biological) and psychological (Hamilton and Beck scores) markers were assessed before and after 2 months of NEAD.

RESULTS

While the patient's body weight was decreasing during the previous 2 months, it significantly increased (P<0.001) during the 2-month TF, both in the restrictive and the binge/purging form: +3,42 +/- 2,39 kg in the restrictive ones and +2,82 +/- 2,17 kg in the binge/purging ones. Patients were rapidly (48 h) and frequently abstinent from binge/purging during TF: 90% had no more binge/purging episodes (P<0.0001). TF did not worse the eating behavior, and did increase neither anxiety nor depressive levels (Hamilton and Beck scores). Biological nutritional markers were normal before TF and remained so (2nd month), except haptoglobin which was low before and reached normal range during TF (P<0,01).

CONCLUSION

Ambulatory TF seems to be useful in AN patients at home. This could permit to avoid hospitalization, but needs to be confirmed by a randomized trial.

Quality of life and enteral nutrition

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The quality of life is in essence, the patients' subjective view of their own health status and can add another dimension to the evaluation of a treatment as the enteral nutrition.The recent clinical investigations on this topic are critically summarized in this review.

RECENT FINDINGS

Three areas of potential impact of enteral nutrition on quality of life of patients have been identified: elderly and neurological patients, cancer patients and patients with anorexia nervosa.A major problem is the difficulty to define quality of life, due to the holistic and subjective nature of this dimension. Moreover, many patients require help to complete the forms of the questionnaire. Finally, many factors besides the enteral nutrition can affect the quality of life of these patients, namely the basic condition and the primary disease of the patients.

SUMMARY

Although the enteral nutrition often represents a life-saving procedure, this does not necessarily translate in an appreciation of a better quality of life by the patients.Additional factors as the gustatory deprivation and the loss of social contacts usually associated with eating and the frequent problems related to tube function and tube-feeding represent severe limitations to a good quality of life of these patients.

Intérêt de la nutrition entérale par sonde nasogastrique dans la boulimie

OBJECTIVE

Few effective treatments are available for severe forms of bulimia nervosa, which are accompanied by malnutrition, anxiety, and depressive mood. We previously showed in an open study that nasogastric tube feeding (TF) reduced binges and purging in patients with anorexia nervosa.

METHODS

This prospective randomized trial compared bulimia patients in two treatment groups: one group received TF at home, together with psychotherapy, nutritional counseling and a support group while the control group received only psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and a support group. Patients in the first group underwent TF for 8 weeks (exclusively for 10 days and associated with meals thereafter). Assessment was based on clinical examination, laboratory results, and a variety of questionnaires (our in-house instrument for measuring binge and vomiting episodes, eating disorder inventory, Beck's depression inventory and the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety), all performed at the onset of treatment and at 8 days, 8 weeks (i.e., the end of TF), and 3 months after treatment began.

RESULTS

Binges and vomiting disappeared faster and more frequently in TF patients than in the control group: 65% versus 29% (p<0.01). Three months later, these remained less frequent in the TF group than among controls (52% versus 33%, p=0.064). Nutritional status, depression, and anxiety improved more among the TF than control subjects (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Tube feeding was effective in these patients with bulimia nervosa, reducing the number of binge and vomiting episodes and improving nutritional status and mood.