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Phillipou A, Rossell SL, Gurvich C, Castle DJ, Meyer D, Abel LA. A biomarker and endophenotype for anorexia nervosa? Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2022; 56:985-993. [PMID: 34538115 DOI: 10.1177/00048674211047189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent research has suggested that a type of atypical eye movement, called square wave jerks, together with anxiety, may distinguish individuals with anorexia nervosa from those without anorexia nervosa and may represent a biomarker and endophenotype for the illness. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of this proposed marker in individuals currently with anorexia nervosa relative to healthy controls, and to identify the state independence and heritability of this putative marker by exploring whether it also exists in individuals who are weight-restored from anorexia nervosa and first-degree relatives (i.e. sisters of people with anorexia nervosa). METHODS Data from 80 female participants (20/group: current anorexia nervosa, weight-restored from anorexia nervosa, sisters of people with anorexia nervosa and healthy controls) were analysed. Square wave jerk rate was acquired during a fixation task, and anxiety was measured with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS Current anorexia nervosa, weight-restored from anorexia nervosa and sisters of people with anorexia nervosa groups made significantly more square wave jerks than healthy controls, but did not differ from one another. Square wave jerk rate and anxiety were found to discriminate groups with exceptionally high accuracy (current anorexia nervosa vs healthy control = 92.5%; weight-restored from anorexia nervosa vs healthy control = 77.5%; sisters of people with anorexia nervosa vs healthy control = 77.5%; p < .001). CONCLUSION The combination of square wave jerk rate and anxiety was found to be a promising two-element marker for anorexia nervosa, and has the potential to be used as a biomarker or endophenotype to identify people at risk of anorexia nervosa and inform future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Phillipou
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan L Rossell
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David J Castle
- Centre for Complex Interventions, Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Denny Meyer
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Larry A Abel
- Optometry, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
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Phillipou A, Abel LA, Gurvich C, Castle DJ, Rossell SL. Eye movements in anorexia nervosa: State or trait markers? Int J Eat Disord 2020; 53:1678-1684. [PMID: 32720354 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Differences in saccadic eye movements are widely reported in mental illnesses, and can indirectly inform our understanding of neurobiological and cognitive underpinnings of psychiatric conditions, including anorexia nervosa (AN). Preliminary research has suggested that individuals with AN may show specific eye movement abnormalities; whether these deficits are representative of state or trait effects is, however, unclear. The aim of this study was to identify whether there are demonstrable differences in performance on saccadic eye movement tasks in individuals with current AN (c-AN), those who are weight-restored from AN (wr-AN), biological sisters of individuals with AN (AN-sis), and healthy controls (HC). METHODS Eighty participants took part in the study (n = 20/group). A set of saccadic eye movement tasks was administered, including prosaccade, antisaccade, memory-guided saccade, and visual scanpath tasks. RESULTS The c-AN group showed an increased rate of inhibitory errors to 10° targets on the memory-guided saccade task. DISCUSSION The results are discussed in terms of the potential role of the superior colliculus in AN, and that the findings may reflect a state measure of AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Phillipou
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Larry A Abel
- Optometry, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia
| | - Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University & The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David J Castle
- Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Susan L Rossell
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
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Phillipou A, Kirkovski M, Castle DJ, Gurvich C, Abel LA, Miles S, Rossell SL. High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in anorexia nervosa: A pilot study. Int J Eat Disord 2019; 52:1274-1280. [PMID: 31433523 DOI: 10.1002/eat.23146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric condition often associated with poor outcomes. Biologically informed treatments for AN, such as brain stimulation, are lacking, in part due to the unclear nature of the neurobiological contributions to the illness. However, recent research has suggested a specific neurobiological target for the treatment of AN, namely stimulation of the inferior parietal lobe (IPL). The aim of this study was to stimulate-noninvasively-the left IPL in individuals with AN using high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS). METHOD Twenty participants will be randomized to receive 10 daily sessions of HD-tDCS or sham HD-tDCS (placebo). Assessments will be carried out at baseline and end point, as well as 4- and 12-week follow-ups. DISCUSSION This pilot investigation will primarily determine the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Phillipou
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa Kirkovski
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Castle
- Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Larry A Abel
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephanie Miles
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Susan L Rossell
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Phillipou A, Castle DJ, Abel LA, Gurvich C, Rossell SL. An Overlooked Brain Region in the Aetiology of Anorexia Nervosa: The Importance of Behaviourally Driven Neuroimaging Analysis. J Exp Neurosci 2019; 12:1179069518820068. [PMID: 30626999 PMCID: PMC6309027 DOI: 10.1177/1179069518820068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurobiological contributions to anorexia nervosa (AN) remain poorly understood, hindering the development of effective neurobiological treatments such as medications and brain stimulation. A large number of studies have been undertaken utilising neuroimaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to gain a better understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in the illness. However, the analyses undertaken by many studies have utilised a whole-brain analytical approach as much of this research has been exploratory in nature. This is, however, problematic as small brain regions that differ between groups may not have the statistical power to produce statistically significant results. This is highlighted in a recent study undertaken by our group utilising diffusion-weighted imaging. In this research, we identified widespread white matter microstructural differences in individuals with AN, but only showed differences in a small brain region (the superior colliculus) when a region-of-interest approach that was driven by behavioural findings was utilised. The importance of hypothesis-driven neuroimaging analyses is discussed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Phillipou
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Jonathan Castle
- Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Larry Allen Abel
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan Lee Rossell
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.,Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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