Annotated Bibliography: Eating Disorder

 

The article outlines and identifies the association between family profiles and psychopathology symptoms in eating disorder victims. An eating disorder is a severe and common mental disease that involves abnormal eating behaviors and concern for a body shape that commonly occurs among adolescents. The article states that early puberty and adolescence are characterized by different transitional stages like social, psychological, and physical modifications. The data used in the article was collected from public and private consultants in central Italy for 551 female adolescents requesting support on eating disorders over a year (Cerniglia et al., 2017). From the study, 329 adolescents were diagnosed with eating disorders using DSM-5 criteria. Most families for these patients were Caucasian with middle-high socioeconomic levels. In the study, SPSS 23.0 was used in the analytical process of the findings. The regression model identified a direct relationship between family functioning and a high level of victims with eating disorders.

The research had various strengths as it ensured there was the consideration of three groups of victims diagnosed with eating disorders and assessing family functioning related to psychopathological risk. The measures used in the study were widely used with good validation. For further clinical studies, the research examined adolescents and parents who had a high quality of family functioning by considering the mean score of family members (Cerniglia et al., 2017). However, the research did not employ a control sample that did not compare the subject score to the non-clinical group. Also, the research did not give a psychopathological risk among the parents to attribute eating disorders among the adolescents.  The study took place in Italy among middle-class families as participants, so the results could not be generalized to other countries. There was no consideration of social support, which is an essential factor for adolescents' phase; social support gives clinical advice on crucial ways of dealing with an eating disorder. This research can be used in the future with students and other researchers who aim to find the controlling factors and treatment of eating disorders among family units.

 

Ghafouri, K. J., Qadhi, A. H., Ghaith, M. M., Azhar, W. F., Azzeh, F. S., & Habibullah, M. M. (2021). Eating disorders amongst adolescents in Makkah: Effects of stress and smoking.

The article describes that eating disorder is a common health problem that affects most adolescents. Environmental factors and ignorance highly impact the high prevalence of the disorder. The article describes the relationship that exists between stress and smoking among adolescents with an eating disorder. The research aimed to examine victims at risk of eating disorders concerning smoking and perceived stress (Ghafouri, 2021). The study used 471 students from public and private secondary schools; 399 females and 72 males. Using questionnaires, the researchers gathered information on the potential prevalence of students at risk of eating disorders. Girls have a higher prevalence of anxiety than male students, which explains a high eating disorder among female students. Conclusively, the study identified that the students at Makkah were at an increased risk of eating disorders; the collected information connected high prevalence stress and smoking to eating disorder development. The findings show that stress and smoking were growing factors for the risk of developing an eating disorder.

            The article uses data collected to analyze the existing relationship between Eating Disorders behaviors and stress. A questionnaire is an essential tool used to detect people who merit the examination concerning eating disorders risk. The questionnaire used in the research had been validated in different countries, including China, Mexico, and France. However, the study has a cross-sectional nature (Ghafouri, 2021). There is an impossibility to find temporal sequence and casualty. In addition, the research did not record dietary intake, physical and social factors that affect students and influence eating disorders. The studies must consider the equal number of students; female and male numbers used in the sample should be similar.  The research can be used to help show the relationship between stress and smoking and eating disorders. The study can teach students about the dangers of smoking and how they promote factors in the increased prevalence of eating disorders.

 

Bulik, C. M., Sullivan, P. F., & Kendler, K. S. (2000). An empirical study of the classification of eating disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(6), 886-895. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.157.6.886

This article's primary purpose was to find the causes and classification of eating disorder as it occurs in the general population. Over the years, the nosology of eating disorders has been undergoing extensive research. The first eating disorder to be identified was Anorexia nervosa. The second eating disorder that was identified was bulimia which was part of Anorexia nervosa (Bulik et al., 2000). The authors interviewed 2163 Caucasian female twins from a population-related registry to identify bulimic and anorectic behaviors. The research employed latent class analysis to different symptoms of eating disorders to help develop an empirical typology. There was a class that had a distorted eating attitude without low body weight. Three courses from the examination showed symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia disorders using the DSM-IV. The authors found three eating disorder classes that were marked as a psychological disorders.

The article used different groups for the comparison of the results they found to show more significant comorbidity. The authors also used psychological measures as validators in consideration of eating disorders. The different factors in eating disorders among the various classes were due to mastery, dependency, and self-esteem.  However, the research did not involve resultant types contingent on the latent class analysis variables considering factor analysis. In addition, the interview process did not affect the people who did not agree with binge eating disorders to outline their behaviors (Bulik et al., 2000). This did not give accurate results on people who purged due to lack of binging.  The article can be used to help in the classification and identification of eating disorders. The classification is a critical analysis that will help create findings that will be sued with other clinicians and future studies.  No class was related to bulimic behaviors and binding among the sample in the research.

 

Eichhorn, K. C. (2008). Soliciting and providing social support over the Internet: An investigation of online eating disorder support groups. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14(1), 67-78.

The argument argues that Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa are the two common eating disorders among women in North America. The article's main objective is to find what is commonly discussed on the online eating disorder boards (Eichhorn, 2008). The report outlines that there is a connection and effectiveness of these networks to the victims. Specifically, the analysis of the content in the research examines various social support given to people with eating disorders. Online discussion boards are important as they outline multiple ways that people can support those with eating disorders. The authors hypothesized that informational support played an essential role in the eating disorder discussion board. There are numerous online eating disorder support groups on the internet, and the study used the top five most popular groups (Eichhorn, 2008).  The topmost groups had the following number, 298, 216, 610, and 698 members. The recorded messages that were used in the research were chosen in a skip interval method. Individual posting played a vital role in analyzing the data collected for the study. According to the research, females were at the top of the chart when posting on the support groups.

The article uses the chi-square statistic method to identify the relationship between people with eating disorders and the support groups. The statistical examination identified a difference between the expected frequencies of social support strategies and the observed frequencies. The number of postings was attributed to a positive effect that helped improve people's lives (Eichhorn, 2008). The set expectations for the research were outlined in the result in good support. However, selecting the random sample from the online support groups, the results were only linked to Yahoo! Site, which may not apply to other websites.  The study is an essential factor that will result in further analysis and the treatment of the eating disorder. The research has exploited a section that most researchers have not focused on in treating an eating disorder. The study did not also account for the people who posted multiple messages on the site. In addition, the results did not state whether the messages were posted and the timing.

 

Wolter, V., Hammerle, F., Buerger, A., & Ernst, V. (2021). Prevention of eating disorders—Efficacy and cost?benefit of a school?based program ("MaiStep") in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). International Journal of Eating Disorders.

The primary purpose of the research is to identify the relationship between eating disorders and the prevention programs that are essential for patients with eating disorders. The central part of the program entirely depends on questionnaire interviews based on reducing eating disorder symptoms. The authors describe that anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and bulimia are severe mental disorders affecting young people (Wolter et al., 2021). The random selection involved 21 schools in Germany; 17 schools participated on their wish, while nine schools were randomly engaged in the research. MaiStep was an intervention that the professional doctors of child psychotherapy implemented. Eating disorders may become chronic since they are challenging to treat. Treatment and prevention of eating disorders are entirely tied to socioeconomic factors as outlined by the authors in the research.

The article used information that the local independent ethics committee approved for information protection. There was some randomized controlled trial as a method of research. The authors ensured that they had parental consent to use the student's data in the study. The authors believe that the research was the first to analyze the efficacy of universal prevention of eating disorders. The analysis included cost-benefit relation based on the DSM-5 criteria. The results showed that there was a great response to the use of MaiStep intervention. However, the research uses data from a student in a middle-age school from one federal state of Germany. There was a limitation concerning self-assessment, which may be biased for the results (Wolter et al., 2021). In addition, there is a lack of information and reliable expenses for bulimia eating disorder. There is a need to find the most effective treatment method for eating disorders among different patients in the future. The research is essential as it helps outline various factors that did not exist in the past studies, including the relationship of treatment programs among adolescents.

Södersten, P., Bergh, C., Leon, M., Brodin, U., & Zandian, M. (2017). Cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders versus normalization of eating behavior. Physiology & behavior, 174, 178-190.

The article argues that there have been numerous interventions to help treat eating disorders among patients. Cognitive-behavioral therapy plays an essential role in treating bulimia and Anorexia, as indicated with clinical evidence. The authors agree that there has been no evidence to support CBT treatment for eating disorders. The authors analyzed the assumption tied to CBT tests and the success rate at the clinic (Södersten et al., 2017). The evaluation involved randomized data from 25 patients with CBT and ten patients treated using RCT. In total, 25 patients were included in the study of CBT intervention. A comparison group constituted a total of 32 patients who were treated using behavioral therapy intervention.  The research identified no effect on the reduction of bulimia symptoms after employing CT intervention despite changing the focus onto additional personal issues. However, the study found that CBT helps to improve eating behaviors among several patients.

The research used different behavioral therapies to help in the comparison process; RCT and Behavioral therapy. The authors focused on a wide range of examinations to help find the effect of CBT in treating eating disorders. The authors agree that normalization was a better method of improving eating behaviors compared to CBT (Södersten et al., 2017). In the future, the research will help identify the treatment and the relationship between different people concerning eating disorders. However, the data collected for the study was based on a particular group of students without including a wide range of students worldwide. There were some patients excluded from the analysis process, which made the finding to be incomplete. There is a need to fill this gap in the future by students and other researchers.

 

Mairs, R., & Nicholls, D. (2016). Assessment and treatment of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 101(12), 1168-1175.

The authors argue that eating disorders among children and adolescents are highly associated with social and emotional problems. Eating disorders can influence identity, self-esteem, and formation.  The article also states that early treatment is a meaningful way to help prevent chronic disease in the future (Mairs & Nicholls, 2016). Dealing with patients with eating disorders involves both nutritionists and mental health expertise. The diagnosis of eating disorder applied DSM-5 criteria. The research used an assessment of a multidisciplinary team approach with core professionals like family therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. The use of interviews was to develop the relationship between children and their parents concerning eating disorders. Effective psychological treatment should be available to patients and improve the results.

The article analyses the treatment method of Anorexia that helps to identify the problem among patients. The pilot trial helped identify support and feeding manual intervention that would help prevent chronic disorders among the patients ((Mairs & Nicholls, 2016). However, the research does not give an understanding based on the trajectory that helps improve treatment and therapy intervention results.  Additionally, the research does not provide a specific sample that helped identify the results discussed in the study. Students can use the analysis to find an effective method that will help treat eating disorders.

 

 

Austin, S. B., Ziyadeh, N. J., Forman, S. F., Prokop, L. A., Keliher, A., & Jacobs, D. Screening high school students for eating disorders: Results of a national initiative. (2008). Preventing Chronic Disease.

The article suggests that early treatment of eating disorders works to prevent chronic diseases among the patients. There is a high document of acute and chronic conditions that are associated with eating disorders. Binge eating disorder has a close relationship with obesity if it is not treated at an early stage. The researchers used the NED SP program sent out to the staff through email and direct mail as listed in psychiatry membership to collect data. NEDSP program was the inclusion of study materials and video manuals. The sample used in the study was 270 private, parochial, and public high schools that participated in the screening program (Austin et al., 2008). Also, 152 schools from close to 35 states completed NEDSP and screening programs. The statistical method that was used in the research and analysis process was logistic and multivariate regression. The sample used for the study included 42% of boys and 58% of girls, while a high percentage constituted people of white ethnicity. The study concluded that most girls had trouble with eating disorders compared to male students in different schools.

The research used the generalization method to help estimate the data that outlines the symptoms of eating disorders among the patients. Additionally, the article identifies that they did not find any close relationship between eating disorders and ethnic background.   However, the research process did not include a more significant percentage of children across the United States. The screening programs and NEDSP were different, making them reliable for use in the study. The subgroups used in the research were small for enough power that dictates challenges in treatment intervention.   The result and data used in the study might be subject to bias because it was self-report data from situational and cognitive factors (Austin et al., 2008). The article concludes that beginning treatment at an early stage helps prevent chronic diseases in the future among students with eating disorders. The research can be used in the future to assist in identifying food-related chronic diseases like obesity.  The researchers left a gap that can only be filled with future researchers who identify the relation of chronic diseases to eating disorders.

 

Lee-Winn, A. E., Reinblatt, S. P., Mojtabai, R., & Mendelson, T. (2016). Gender and racial/ethnic differences in binge eating symptoms in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in the United States. Eating behaviors, 22, 27-33.

            The article suggests that binge eating disorder is highly connected to mental and physical health problems. The article tends to investigate the relationship that exists between racial and ethnic diversity and eating disorder symptoms. The authors researched racial differences and gender-related to eight symptoms of binge eating disorder among adolescents (Lee-Winn et al., 2016). The data used in the study was collected from the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent supplement between 2001 and 2004; they used a multivariate regression model to help identify the relationship between eating disorders and genders and ethnic groups. The research findings showed that more females were associated with binge eating disorders than male students. The findings show that there was a relationship between binge eating among different genders with different ethnic groups.

The article used their findings to suggest treatment methods which included the promotion of better health emotional regulation. The statistical analysis used in the study played an important role in reflecting on the various associations between ethnic groups and gender and eating disorders. However, the survey was conducted in earlier years which might not be relevant during the research period due to several changes (Lee-Winn et al., 2016). Interviews administered by clinicians might not be dependable as they are corrupted and biased for the study. Additionally, the researchers could not find possible relationships and factors affecting ethnic and gender differences concerning eating disorders. Despite the challenges and weaknesses of the study, the use of recorded sample help in study generalization and the results extends to the currently used knowledge. Binge eating calls for clinical intervention as it affects people's weight, image, and self-esteem. The results on gender and racial differences in eating disorders among adolescents may have focus and reliable information used in the treatment process.

 

Levinson, C. A., Zerwas, S. C., Brosof, L. C., Thornton, L. M., Strober, M., Pivarunas, B., ... & Bulik, C. M. (2019). Associations between dimensions of anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder: an examination of personality and psychological factors in patients with anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 27(2), 161-172.

The primary purpose of the article is to find the association between anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The authors argue that obsessive-compulsive disorder is highly linked to females with anorexia nervosa. Elsewhere, the authors state that close to 10% of the women who have anorexia disorder suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. The researchers theorized that Anorexia and obsessive-compulsive disorder were highly shared among the patients under analysis (Levinson et al., 2019). Participants used in the research were from nine sites in North America and Europe. The clinical databases were used to identify the potential participants in the study. The approval of the research was through the consent of the participants. Statistical analysis was used in the investigation process to identify the correlation between patients with Anorexia disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The research was able to identify a direct relation between obsessive-compulsive disorder factors and factors that promote eating disorders among these patients. The strength of the study was that it included all patients who had an eating disorder. However, the research does not generalize the results among people with OCD who do not have an eating disorder in the general population. The results used in the research were cross-sectional, which does not allow assumptions about the casualty (Levinson et al., 2019). There are time disappearances that exist in the invariance testing for the current and old times. The measures were self-reported, which shows that the study was biased, and it limited the generalization process to the finding depending on the gender and eating disorders. The research outlines how the two disorders are associated and states the best interventions to help in the treatment process, essential for nursing diagnosis and treatment in the future.