TY - JOUR
T1 - Analysis of symptom clusters amongst adults with anorexia nervosa
T2 - Key severity indicators
AU - Li, Zhuo
AU - Leppanen, Jenni
AU - Webb, Jessica
AU - Croft, Philippa
AU - Byford, Sarah
AU - Tchanturia, Kate
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded in part by the Wellcome Trust [213,578/Z/18/Z]. The research was further supported by MRC -MRF Fund [MR/R004595/1]. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
Funding Information:
This research was funded in part by the Wellcome Trust [213,578/Z/18/Z]. The research was further supported by MRC-MRF Fund [MR/R004595/1]. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - This study used cluster analysis to explore clinically relevant subgroups of adult patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Patients were clustered based on their body mass index (BMI), eating disorder symptomatology, anxiety and depression symptoms and autistic characteristics. The difference between clusters in work and social functioning, duration of illness, bingeing and purging behaviour, previous hospitalisations and number of comorbidities was also investigated. Two meaningful clusters emerged: a higher symptoms cluster with more severe eating pathology, anxiety, depression, and more autistic traits, and a second cluster with lower symptoms. BMI did not make major contributions to cluster formation. The higher symptoms cluster also reported lower self-efficacy to change, more previous hospitalisations, comorbid diagnoses, binge eating and purging behaviours and use of psychotropic medication. Our findings suggest that weight alone may not be a significant severity indicator amongst inpatients with AN, and targeted treatment of AN should consider a broader range of symptom severity indicators.
AB - This study used cluster analysis to explore clinically relevant subgroups of adult patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Patients were clustered based on their body mass index (BMI), eating disorder symptomatology, anxiety and depression symptoms and autistic characteristics. The difference between clusters in work and social functioning, duration of illness, bingeing and purging behaviour, previous hospitalisations and number of comorbidities was also investigated. Two meaningful clusters emerged: a higher symptoms cluster with more severe eating pathology, anxiety, depression, and more autistic traits, and a second cluster with lower symptoms. BMI did not make major contributions to cluster formation. The higher symptoms cluster also reported lower self-efficacy to change, more previous hospitalisations, comorbid diagnoses, binge eating and purging behaviours and use of psychotropic medication. Our findings suggest that weight alone may not be a significant severity indicator amongst inpatients with AN, and targeted treatment of AN should consider a broader range of symptom severity indicators.
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Anorexia Nervosa/complications
KW - Syndrome
KW - Bulimia/diagnosis
KW - Feeding and Eating Disorders
KW - Binge-Eating Disorder/diagnosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163413938&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115272
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115272
M3 - Article
C2 - 37276647
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 326
SP - 115272
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
M1 - 115272
ER -