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Gray IE, Enticott PG, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Kirkovski M. Cognitive and emotional empathy in acute and remitted anorexia nervosa: a systematic review. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1385185. [PMID: 38855647 PMCID: PMC11157095 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1385185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Impairments in empathy are well established in anorexia nervosa (AN). It is unclear, however, whether these deficits only occur in the acute phases of AN due to neurocognitive impacts of starvation (often referred to as context-dependent, or state-like), or if deficits remain once remission has been achieved (trait-like). This debate is commonly referred to as the 'state vs trait' debate. Objective This systematic review aims to summarise existing literature regarding empathy in AN, and to investigate whether empathy deficits in AN are state- or trait-based. Method A total of 1014 articles were identified, and seven articles remained after the screening process. These seven articles, comparing empathy across three groups (acute AN, remission of AN, and non-clinical controls), were evaluated and summarised in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Articles were required to have included all three groups and report on either cognitive empathy and/or emotional empathy. Results The majority of studies were of satisfactory quality. The results identified were inconsistent, with few articles lending some support to the 'state' hypothesis and others producing nonsignificant results. Conclusions There is minimal literature comparing empathy in acute and remission phases of AN. While there were some inconsistencies in included articles, some data indicate that there may be slight improvements to emotional and cognitive empathy following recovery of AN. Further research is needed to better enrich knowledge regarding the role of state vs trait with regard to neurocognitive difficulties experienced by individuals with AN. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=335669, identifier CRD42022335669.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indigo E. Gray
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Melissa Kirkovski
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Fithall K, Gray IE, Linardon J, Phillipou A, Donaldson PH, Albein-Urios N, Enticott PG, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Kirkovski M. Exploring the role of autistic traits and eating disorder psychopathology on mentalising ability in the general population. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:269. [PMID: 37674242 PMCID: PMC10483798 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01306-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the role of overlapping traits and characteristics related to autism spectrum disorder (autism) and anorexia nervosa (AN) in the general population, and the impact of these traits on mentalising ability. METHODS A sample of young adults (N = 306), aged 18-25 years, was recruited to complete an online study that consisted of 4 measures: the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Mentalization Scale, and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes task. RESULTS Higher levels of autistic traits, particularly difficulty with attention switching, were associated with increased eating disorder psychopathology. Overall, autistic traits and eating disorder psychopathology were related among females, but not males. Difficulty with attention switching, however, was related to eating disorder psychopathology among both females and males. Autistic traits also appear to have a greater role in mentalising ability than does eating disorder psychopathology. CONCLUSION The role of attention switching in overlapping traits of autism and eating disorder psychopathology needs to be more comprehensively evaluated by future research, as does the role of biological sex. Expanded knowledge in this field will help to better understand and evaluate symptoms at presentation, leading to clearer diagnoses and potentially better treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Fithall
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Indigo E Gray
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Jake Linardon
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Andrea Phillipou
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Orygen, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Mental Health, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Mental Health, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Melissa Kirkovski
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Nimbley E, Gillespie-Smith K, Duffy F, Maloney E, Ballantyne C, Sharpe H. "It's not about wanting to be thin or look small, it's about the way it feels": an IPA analysis of social and sensory differences in autistic and non-autistic individuals with anorexia and their parents. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:89. [PMID: 37277884 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00813-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite increasing evidence to support an overlap between autism and anorexia nervosa (AN), underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Social and sensory factors have emerged as promising targets in both autism and AN, however there remains scope to compare these differences across autistic and non-autistic experiences of AN. Drawing on dyadic multi-perspectives, this study explored experiences of social and sensory differences in autistic and non-autistic adults and their parents and/or carers. METHODS Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), dyadic interviews were conducted with 14 dyads, with seven autistic dyads and seven non-autistic dyads. Data analysis was subjected to a triangulation of interpretations: (1) the participants themselves; (2) a neurotypical researcher; (3) and an Autistic researcher with lived/living experience of AN. RESULTS IPA identified three themes in each group, with similarities and differences between autistic and non-autistic dyads. Similar themes were identified regarding the importance of social connectedness and socio-emotional difficulties, as well a common lack of trust in the social and sensory self and body. Autism-specific themes centred on feelings of social 'defectiveness', disparities between sensing and expressing certain cues, and lifelong, multi-sensory processing differences. Non-autistic themes reflected social comparisons and inadequacy, and sensitivities to the learning of ideals and behaviour through early experiences. CONCLUSIONS While similarities were observed across both groups, there appeared to be notable differences in the perceived role and influence of social and sensory differences. These findings may have important implications on the delivery and modification of eating disorder interventions. Specifically, they suggest that while treatment targets may look similar, subtle differences in underlying mechanisms and approaches may be required for Autistic individuals with AN across sensory, emotion and communication-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emy Nimbley
- Department of Clinical Psychology in the School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Elsie Inglis Quadrangle, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK.
| | - Karri Gillespie-Smith
- Department of Clinical Psychology in the School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Elsie Inglis Quadrangle, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
| | - Fiona Duffy
- Department of Clinical Psychology in the School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Elsie Inglis Quadrangle, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
- NHS Lothian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Ellen Maloney
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Carrie Ballantyne
- School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Helen Sharpe
- Department of Clinical Psychology in the School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Elsie Inglis Quadrangle, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK
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4
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Gaggero G, Luminet O, Vermeulen N, De Timary P, Nandrino JL, Goffinet S, Dereau J, Shankland R, Dassonneville C, Grynberg D. A multidimensional examination of affective and cognitive empathy in anorexia nervosa. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2023. [PMID: 37081796 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Socio-emotional features are crucial in the development and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN). The present study investigates the patterns of altered and preserved empathic abilities in AN. Empathy is an umbrella term that comprises the ability to recognise another's emotional state, take another's perspective, and fantasise (cognitive empathy), as well as the ability to experience vicarious emotions and signal them (affective empathy). These empathic abilities were measured in 43 AN patients and 33 healthy women through a multi-method approach comprising self-report measures, behavioural tasks and bodily correlates. Further, we assessed self-reported approach-avoidance attitudes towards suffering others. Results showed that, within the domain of cognitive empathy, AN patients reported impairment in recognising emotional expressions of anger and fantasising. Concerning affective empathy, they manifested lower sharing of others' positive emotions, higher self-reported distress, and higher facial expressiveness during a video depicting a suffering person. Finally, AN patients reported lower motivation to approach suffering others. Our results draw a complex picture of preserved and altered empathic abilities in AN and capture which are the deficits mediated by the higher levels of anxiety and depression reported by the AN population and those that seem to persist independently from these co-morbid conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Gaggero
- Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Lille, France
| | - O Luminet
- Psychological Science Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS), Brussels, Belgium
| | - N Vermeulen
- Psychological Science Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Fund for Scientific Research (FRS-FNRS), Brussels, Belgium
| | - P De Timary
- Department of Adult Psychiatry, UCLouvain, Institute of Neuroscience and Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J L Nandrino
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Lille, France
| | - S Goffinet
- Service de Psychiatrie Infanto-Juvénile, Hospital Erasme, HUB, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - J Dereau
- Clinique La Ramée, Bruxelles, Belgique
| | - R Shankland
- Laboratory DIPHE (Development, Individual, Personality, Handicap, Education), Department of Psychology of Development, Education and Vulnerabilities, University Lumière Lyon, Bron, France
- Laboratory LIP/PC2S, Department of Psychology, University Grenoble Alpes/Savoie-Mont-Blanc, Grenoble, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - C Dassonneville
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Lille, France
| | - D Grynberg
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9193 - SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Lille, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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Leppanen J, Patsalos O, Surguladze S, Kerr-Gaffney J, Williams S, Tchanturia K. Evaluation of film stimuli for the assessment of social-emotional processing: a pilot study. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14160. [PMID: 36444380 PMCID: PMC9700451 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Difficulties in top-down and bottom-up emotion generation have been proposed to play a key role in the progression of psychiatric disorders. The aim of the current study was to develop more ecologically valid measures of top-down interpretation biases and bottom-up evoked emotional responses. Methods A total of 124 healthy female participants aged 18-25 took part in the study. We evaluated two sets of 18 brief film clips. The first set of film clips presented ambiguous social situations designed to examine interpretation biases. Participants provided written interpretations of each ambiguous film clip which were subjected to sentiment analysis. We compared the films in terms of the valence of participants interpretations. The second set of film clips presented neutral and emotionally provoking social scenarios designed to elicit subjective and facial emotional responses. While viewing these film clips participants mood ratings and facial affect were recorded and analysed using exploratory factor analyses. Results Most of the 18 ambiguous film clips were interpreted in the expected manner while still retaining some ambiguity. However, participants were more attuned to the negative cues in the ambiguous film clips and three film clips were identified as unambiguous. These films clips were deemed unsuitable for assessing interpretation bias. The exploratory factor analyses of participants' mood ratings and evoked facial affect showed that the positive and negative emotionally provoking film clips formed their own factors as expected. However, there was substantial cross-loading of the neutral film clips when participants' facial expression data was analysed. Discussion A subset of the film clips from the two tasks could be used to assess top-down interpretation biases and bottom-up evoked emotional responses. Ambiguous negatively valenced film clips should have more subtle negative cues to avoid ceiling effects and to ensure there is enough room for interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Leppanen
- Department of Neuroimaging, King’s College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olivia Patsalos
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Surguladze
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jess Kerr-Gaffney
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Williams
- Department of Neuroimaging, King’s College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ketevan Tchanturia
- Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust National Eating Disorder Service, London, United Kingdom
- Psychology Department, Illia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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6
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Susanin A, Cooper M, Makara A, Kuschner ES, Timko CA. Autistic characteristics in youth with anorexia nervosa before and after treatment. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2022; 30:664-670. [PMID: 35780511 PMCID: PMC10243230 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive characteristics common to autistic individuals are often seen in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN), raising the question of whether autistic people and people with AN may share an endophenotype. We need to examine autistic characteristics during the early stages of AN to accurately parse true symptom co-occurrence from behavioural alterations due to prolonged illness. METHODS We conducted a post-hoc analysis examining autistic characteristics in 59 youth with AN. Adolescents and parents participating in a randomised-clinical trial for AN completed questionnaires probing autistic characteristics at baseline and treatment end. We categorised participants as above or below cut-offs of clinical indicators of autism using the Autism Probability Index (API) and the Autism Spectrum Quotient-10. RESULTS Rates of high autistic characteristics ranged between 0% and 36% depending on the instrument used and how the data was obtained (i.e., by informant report or self-report). Paternal report of autistic characteristics differed across treatment completers versus non completers and maternal report indicated lower weight gain for those with elevated characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Low rates of autism and fluctuations in autistic features during treatment underscore the importance of longitudinal examinations of autistic characteristics in adolescents with AN. Future studies need to replicate findings in a larger adolescent sample. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrails.gov Identifier NCT03928028.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Susanin
- Eating and Weight Disorder Program, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Marita Cooper
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Amanda Makara
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emily S. Kuschner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphian, Pennsylvania
| | - C. Alix Timko
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphian, Pennsylvania
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7
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Ruan VA, Hartz A, Hueck M, Dahmen B, von Polier G, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Konrad K, Schulte-Rüther M, Seitz J. Neural mechanisms underlying social recognition and theory of mind in adolescent patients with bulimia nervosa and transdiagnostic comparison with anorexia nervosa. EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW 2022; 30:486-500. [PMID: 35701077 DOI: 10.1002/erv.2911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Theory of mind (ToM) is important for social interactions and typical development and has been found to be impaired in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Hypoactivation in frontotemporal brain regions seems to be the underlying neural mechanism in AN while whole-brain analyses in BN are lacking. METHODS We used the well-validated social recognition task fMRI paradigm to assess ToM in a total of 72 female adolescents (16 BN, 18 AN and 38 matched healthy controls [HC]). RESULTS Compared to HCBN , patients with BN showed hyperactivity during ToM-activity in the right frontal pole, middle temporal gyrus and left temporal pole and differed fundamentally from hypoactivation in these regions observed in patients with AN before and after short-term weight rehabilitation. Interaction and overlap analyses confirmed that similar regions were affected in opposite directions in both diseases. Hyperactivations in BN in the right middle temporal gyrus and right frontal pole were associated with clinical BN-severity markers binging and purging frequency. DISCUSSION The hyperactivation in BN suggest different underlying neural mechanisms for ToM compared to AN. Hyperactivity might correspond to a different but also ineffective cognitive style in patients with BN when approaching social interactions. These important transdiagnostic differences are relevant for future brain-targeted therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Ande Ruan
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Clinic for Obstetrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arne Hartz
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Manuel Hueck
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Brigitte Dahmen
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Georg von Polier
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain & Behaviour (INM-7), Reseaerch Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Konrad
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Child Neuropsychology Section, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine Jüllich, Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (INM-11), Research Centre Jüllich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Martin Schulte-Rüther
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Child Neuropsychology Section, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine Jüllich, Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging (INM-11), Research Centre Jüllich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jochen Seitz
- Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Andersen NK, Rimvall MK, Jeppesen P, Bentz M, Jepsen JRM, Clemmensen L, Jacobsen RK, Olsen EM. A psychometric investigation of the multiple-choice version of Animated Triangles Task to measure Theory of Mind in adolescence. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264319. [PMID: 35271598 PMCID: PMC8912123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Animated Triangles Task (AT) is commonly used to measure Theory of Mind (ToM). AT can be scored by clinicians based on participants’ verbal responses (AT-verbal) or using a multiple-choice paradigm (AT-MCQ). This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the less time-consuming AT-MCQ. To do this, we examined agreement and correlations between the AT-MCQ and the original AT-verbal scores in 1546 adolescents from a population-based sample. As a supplementary analysis of known-groups validity, we examined if AT-MCQ was as sensitive as AT-verbal in detecting ToM-limitations in 54 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), using register-data. The agreement between AT-verbal and AT-MCQ varied markedly across test items. Scores on the two scoring methods were weakly correlated. Both scoring methods weakly detected differences between adolescents with and without ASD in this population-based sample. Most participants had appropriate responses on both AT-MCQ and AT-verbal, which yielded overall acceptable agreement. However, the feasibility of using either scoring methods to measure ToM-limitations in adolescents from the general population is questionable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naja Kirstine Andersen
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Mental Health Services, The Capital Region, Hellerup, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Martin Køster Rimvall
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Mental Health Services, The Capital Region, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital – Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Pia Jeppesen
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Mental Health Services, The Capital Region, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital – Psychiatry Region Zealand, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Bentz
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Mental Health Services, The Capital Region, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Jens Richardt Møllegaard Jepsen
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre, Mental Health Services, The Capital Region, Hellerup, Denmark
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research and Center for Clinical Intervention and Neuropsychiatric Schizophrenia Research, Mental Health Services, The Capital Region, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Lars Clemmensen
- Copenhagen Research Center for Mental Health, CORE, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rikke Kart Jacobsen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, The Capital Region, Denmark
| | - Else Marie Olsen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, The Capital Region, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Psychiatric Center Ballerup, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Ballerup, Denmark
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9
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Anorexia Nervosa and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Psychiatry Res 2021; 306:114271. [PMID: 34798485 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent research has shown a growing interest in exploring the relationship between anorexia nervosa (AN) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both conditions seem to share areas of cognitive, social and behavioural impairment, leading to relevant implications on treatment, especially when they are in comorbidity. This literature review aims to synthesise the latest studies on this topic to investigate the co-occurrence of AN and ASD, suggest future research directions and consider implications for treatment. METHOD Records were systematically (PRISMA guidelines) identified through PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus and Web of Science searching. RESULTS Thirteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were therefore included in the review. Results seem to confirm an overrepresentation of ASD symptoms in AN. Only few studies investigated the AN-ASD comorbidity in young people and report slightly lower rates than those conducted with adults. CONCLUSIONS Analysed studies suggest that while the comorbidity seems to exacerbate the severity of the condition, autistic traits appear to be rather stable over time and not related to body weight. Thus, future longitudinal studies and gender- specific assessment tools can help clarify the relationship between the two disorders, examine the onset of ASD symptoms and develop structured guidelines for treatment.
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10
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Mason TB, Lesser EL, Dolgon-Krutolow AR, Wonderlich SA, Smith KE. An updated transdiagnostic review of social cognition and eating disorder psychopathology. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 143:602-627. [PMID: 33190838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Existing data suggest that deficits in social cognitive functioning are transdiagnostic phenomena that are observed across various forms of psychopathology. The goal of the present review was to provide an updated systematic review of the literature on social cognitive functioning across eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). Studies that assessed six areas of social cognition were included: theory of mind, social perception, social knowledge, attributional bias, emotion perception, and emotion processing. A systematic search identified 71 studies, the majority of which examined adult women with AN. Research typically focused on alexithymia, theory of mind, empathy, social processing, emotion recognition, or emotion processing. Results suggested some deficits in social cognition in EDs. AN had the most studies with some evidence for deficiencies in social cognition but a fair amount of variability. Research on BN and BED was limited and inconsistent, though there appear to be some deficits in social cognition. Together, the limited coverage across EDs and heterogeneous methodology preclude firm conclusions regarding general or ED-specific deficits, as well as understanding the role of social cognition in ED etiology and maintenance. Therefore, several key questions and future directions are outlined for research moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler B Mason
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Anna R Dolgon-Krutolow
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephen A Wonderlich
- Sanford Center for Bio-behavioral Research, Sanford Health, Fargo, ND, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Kathryn E Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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11
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Kinematics and observer-animator kinematic similarity predict mental state attribution from Heider-Simmel style animations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18266. [PMID: 34521902 PMCID: PMC8440512 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to ascribe mental states, such as beliefs or desires to oneself and other individuals forms an integral part of everyday social interaction. Animations tasks, in which observers watch videos of interacting triangles, have been extensively used to test mental state attribution in a variety of clinical populations. Compared to control participants, individuals with clinical conditions such as autism typically offer less appropriate mental state descriptions of such videos. Recent research suggests that stimulus kinematics and movement similarity (between the video and the observer) may contribute to mental state attribution difficulties. Here we present a novel adaptation of the animations task, suitable to track and compare animation generator and -observer kinematics. Using this task and a population-derived stimulus database, we confirmed the hypotheses that an animation’s jerk and jerk similarity between observer and animator significantly contribute to the correct identification of an animation. By employing random forest analysis to explore other stimulus characteristics, we reveal that other indices of movement similarity, including acceleration- and rotation-based similarity, also predict performance. Our results highlight the importance of movement similarity between observer and animator and raise new questions about reasons why some clinical populations exhibit difficulties with this task.
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Babb C, Brede J, Jones CRG, Elliott M, Zanker C, Tchanturia K, Serpell L, Mandy W, Fox JRE. 'It's not that they don't want to access the support . . . it's the impact of the autism': The experience of eating disorder services from the perspective of autistic women, parents and healthcare professionals. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:1409-1421. [PMID: 33588579 PMCID: PMC8264634 DOI: 10.1177/1362361321991257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT This study explores autistic women's experiences of eating disorder services. About 20%-30% of people with anorexia nervosa are also autistic, and current treatments seem not to work as well for them. We interviewed 15 autistic women with experience of anorexia nervosa, 12 parents of autistic women with anorexia nervosa, and 11 healthcare professionals working in eating disorder services. We asked autistic women and parents about their experiences of eating disorder services, and we asked healthcare professionals about their experiences treating autistic women with anorexia nervosa. Participants' views were represented by three overall themes: misunderstanding autism and autistic traits, one treatment does not fit all, and improving accessibility and engagement within services. We found that autistic women face many barriers when in treatment for anorexia nervosa, often because of a lack of autism understanding within eating disorder services. Future research should look at developing anorexia nervosa treatments that can specifically help autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lucy Serpell
- University College London, UK
- Eating Disorder Service, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, Essex, UK
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13
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Leppanen J, Tosunlar L, Blackburn R, Williams S, Tchanturia K, Sedgewick F. Critical incidents in anorexia nervosa: perspectives of those with a lived experience. J Eat Disord 2021; 9:53. [PMID: 33875005 PMCID: PMC8054426 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-021-00409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although social-emotional difficulties are believed play a key role in anorexia nervosa (AN), there is uncertainty regarding what these difficulties might look like. Previous research has largely focused on a "disease model" of social-emotional processing in AN with little attention paid to positive emotions and experiences. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to obtain a fuller picture of critical life events as identified by those with lived AN experience. METHODS Thirty-four participants aged 16-48 with current or past AN completed an online survey describing self-defined positive and difficult critical events. Thematic analysis was used to assess patterns in participants narrative responses. RESULTS Two major themes were identified in the descriptions of positive critical events: Moments of celebration and Unexpected positive outcomes. These major themes revealed increased external focus and some corrective experiences that challenged the participants pre-existing expectations leading to new positive outcomes. Difficult events clustered into life events that were identified as Eating disorder (ED) related and Non-ED related and included the dimensions of relational conflict and feeling unsupported. DISCUSSION The findings suggest that although negative emotionality was identified in the accounts of those with lived experience of AN capacity for "big-picture" thinking with and explicit focus on others was also identified. Moreover, an openness to corrective experiences that worked to challenge negative expectations was evident for some participants. Together these findings have scope as targets for further clinical research and treatment interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Leppanen
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, 103 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
| | - Lara Tosunlar
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, 103 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Rachael Blackburn
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, 103 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Steven Williams
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kate Tchanturia
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College London, 103 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust National Eating Disorder Service, London, UK
- Psychology Department, Illia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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14
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Timko CA, Herrington JD, Bhattacharya A, Kuschner ES, Yerys BE. Caregiver Report of Executive Functioning in Adolescent Females With Anorexia Nervosa or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychol 2021; 11:586264. [PMID: 33633624 PMCID: PMC7899966 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current literature suggesting a shared endophenotype between individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) related to executive functioning (EF) has several limitations: performance-based instead of ecologically valid measures of set-shifting are used, lack of comparisons between same-sex groups, and reliance on adult samples only. This was the first study directly comparing female youth with ASD to female youth with AN using an ecologically valid measure of EF. A secondary data analysis combined caregiver-reported EF on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF) for 22 female adolescent youth with AN and 29 female adolescent youth with ASD. EF in each group was compared to population norms, and EF was compared between groups. Compared to population norms, adolescents with AN had elevated scores on shift, initiate, and emotional control scales, and adolescents with ASD had elevated scores on all scales of the BRIEF and were more likely to have scores in the clinical range. There were significant differences between groups on all but three scales. The cognitive profiles and clinical scores of AN females were not comparable to those of ASD females. The findings reveal a clear clinical impairment in females with ASD but not in females with AN. The results do not support the hypothesis of similar real-world EF profiles between these groups. The results encourage further exploration into the similarities and distinctions between these two disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Alix Timko
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphian, Pennsylvania
| | - John D Herrington
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphian, Pennsylvania
| | - Anushua Bhattacharya
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emily S Kuschner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphian, Pennsylvania
| | - Benjamin E Yerys
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphian, Pennsylvania
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15
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Leslie M, Halls D, Leppanen J, Sedgewick F, Smith K, Hayward H, Lang K, Fonville L, Simic M, Mandy W, Nicholls D, Murphy D, Williams S, Tchanturia K. Neural Correlates of Theory of Mind Are Preserved in Young Women With Anorexia Nervosa. Front Psychol 2020; 11:568073. [PMID: 33013605 PMCID: PMC7511528 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.568073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
People with anorexia nervosa (AN) commonly exhibit social difficulties, which may be related to problems with understanding the perspectives of others, commonly known as Theory of Mind (ToM) processing. However, there is a dearth of literature investigating the neural basis of these differences in ToM and at what age they emerge. This study aimed to test for differences in the neural correlates of ToM processes in young women with AN, and young women weight-restored (WR) from AN, as compared to healthy control participants (HC). Based on previous findings in AN, we hypothesized that young women with current or prior AN, as compared to HCs, would exhibit a reduced neural response in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the inferior frontal gyrus, and the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) whilst completing a ToM task. We recruited 73 young women with AN, 45 WR young women, and 70 young women without a history of AN to take part in the current study. Whilst undergoing a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan, participants completed the Frith-Happé task, which is a commonly used measure of ToM with demonstrated reliability and validity in adult populations. In this task, participants viewed the movements of triangles, which depicted either action movements, simple interactions, or complex social interactions. Viewing trials with more complex social interactions in the Frith-Happé task was associated with increased brain activation in regions including the right TPJ, the bilateral mPFC, the cerebellum, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. There were no group differences in neural activation in response to the ToM contrast. Overall, these results suggest that the neural basis of spontaneous mentalizing is preserved in most young women with AN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Leslie
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Psychology, University of Chester, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Halls
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jenni Leppanen
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Felicity Sedgewick
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,School of Education, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Smith
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Hayward
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katie Lang
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Leon Fonville
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mima Simic
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - William Mandy
- Research Department of Clinical, Health and Educational Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dasha Nicholls
- Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Declan Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Williams
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Tchanturia
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Psychology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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