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ABSTRACT Objective To examine child and adolescent differences in the clinical presentation of eating disorders (EDs) at referral to a specialist pediatric program. Method This study compared cognitive, behavioral, and physical and medical features of children (≤12 years) and adolescents (13-18 years) with EDs presenting to a state-wide specialist pediatric ED service over two decades ( N = 656; 8-18 years; 94% female). Results Significant differences were found between the groups. Children were more commonly male ( p < .001), had lower eating pathology scores ( p < .001), were less likely to binge eat ( p = .02), purge ( p < .001) or exercise for shape and weight control ( p < .001), and lost weight at a faster rate than adolescents ( p = .009), whereas adolescents were more likely to present with bulimia nervosa spectrum disorders ( p = .004). Children and adolescents did not differ significantly on mean body mass index z-score, percentage of body weight lost, or indicators of medical compromise ( p > .05). Discussion The clinical presentation of EDs differs among children and adolescents, with eating pathology and behavioral symptoms less prominent among children. Frontline health professionals require knowledge of these differences to assist with early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:47-53) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to examine parent-youth concordance in reporting of eating disorder pathology, as assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) in a clinical pediatric sample. Method The sample comprised 619 parent-youth dyads of youth (8-18 years) presenting for treatment at a specialist eating disorder clinic. A cross-sectional correlational design was used to examine the association between parent and youth symptom reports. Results On the whole, parent-youth inter-rater agreement was poor to moderate. Agreement was acceptable for the presence of behavioral symptoms, with the exception of excessive exercise (PAK = 0.48-0.98). There was poor inter-rater agreement on frequency of behavioral symptoms, with parents providing lower estimates than youth (ICC = 0.07-0.52). Although we predicted that inter-rater agreement on cognitive symptoms would by higher with adolescents than children, both groups were discordant with parent reports. Younger children identified less severe eating disorder cognitions than parents and the opposite occurred for adolescents. An anorexia nervosa presentation and lower malnutrition were not associated with lower inter-rater agreement, as might have been expected through ego syntonicity. Youth with bulimia nervosa presentations reported significantly higher severity of cognitive symptoms and more frequent disordered eating behaviors compared with their parents. Discussion Results support the utility of parent-youth assessment via the EDE to obtain a wider clinical picture of eating disorder psychopathology in children and adolescents, particularly for younger children. Clinical implications pertinent to administration of the EDE and parent literacy regarding eating disorder symptoms are discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013; 46:617-625) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective In light of prior inconsistent findings, this study revisits the relationship between weight suppression and treatment outcome in bulimia nervosa. Aside from differences in methodology, we propose that moderator effects may assist the field in interpreting previous inconsistency. In this study, we considered moderators that might place individuals at risk of broad cognitive and biobehavioral mechanisms implicated in weight (dys)regulation and binge eating, and that within the context of a history of weight suppression, might be associated with especially poor outcomes. Method Participants were 117 female outpatients aged 16-54 years ( M = 25.5) with bulimic disorders treated with enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy. Results Logistic regression indicated that higher pretreatment weight suppression did not predict drop-out or poor treatment outcome (nonabstinence from binging and purging). Moderators of parental history of overweight, childhood body shape, pretreatment body mass index, and the difference between highest and lowest ever adult body weight were analyzed, but no moderator effects were apparent. Discussion This study, along with other negative studies, calls into question the association between weight suppression and treatment outcome. We maintain that moderators may account for inconsistencies, but no candidates were identified in this study. Moderator models could assist us to refine conceptualizations of why some patients high in weight suppression may be vulnerable to poor treatment adherence and outcome and to establish clinical interventions that enhance prognosis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013; 46:586-593) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]