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Disordered eating (DE) poses a large societal burden, yet limited research has examined DE from a developmental epidemiological perspective. It is important to consider how demographics influence DE symptoms to inform prevention and early intervention programs across diverse subpopulations. Therefore, we conducted network analyses using a large nationally representative epidemiological sample of high school students (Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States; n = 59,582) to identify the most important symptoms and symptom relationships among six DE behaviors. We compared networks by sex, grade, and race to identify differences in symptom networks. Dieting for weight loss was highly central across networks. Networks significantly differed across sex, grade, and race. Our results suggest that dieting for weight loss may be an early intervention target for eating disorders, regardless of demographic and developmental factors. In addition, sex, race, and age should be accounted for when researching and developing prevention programs for DE and eating disorders. Public health officials, as well as mental health professionals, should present a more balanced message about dieting and weight loss to high school students to prevent the detrimental impact of DE on physical and mental health. Notably, this study is the first large, nationwide epidemiological sample using DE symptoms in network analysis.

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious psychiatric illnesses with high mortality and societal cost. Despite their severity, there are few evidence-based treatments, and only 50% of individuals respond to existing treatments. This low response rate may be due to the fact that EDs are highly heterogeneous disorders. Precision treatments are needed that can intervene on individual maintenance factors. The first step in such treatment development is identification of central treatment targets, both at the group (i.e., on average) and individual level. The current study (

Longitudinal associations between eating disorders (EDs) and comorbid psychiatric disorders are poorly understood but important to examine as comorbidities are common and can impede ED recovery. We examined two common comorbidities, major depressive disorder (MDD) and substance use disorder (SUD), in adult women with intake diagnoses of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) who participated in a longitudinal study. To test the longitudinal reciprocal relations among ED, MDD, and SUD, we conducted a multi-group autoregressive cross-lagged path analysis. We tested whether ED, MDD, and SUD in a given three-month period (t – 1) each predicted ED, MDD, and SUD during the subsequent three-month period (t) over 5 years. We examined the moderating effect of intake diagnosis (AN vs. BN). Among AN (but not BN) participants, having MDD at t – 1 predicted having an ED at time t, OR = 1.98, B = .68, z = 2.49, p = .01. Among BN (but not AN) participants, having a SUD at t – 1 predicted having an ED at time t, OR = 5.16, B = 1.64, z = 2.34, p = .01. In contrast, having an ED at t – 1 did not predict MDD or SUD at time t for AN or BN participants. These results suggest for individuals with AN and MDD, treating MDD may facilitate ED recovery. For individuals with BN and SUD, treating SUD may facilitate ED recovery. These identified temporal associations between ED and comorbid disorders may guide cognitive behavioral researchers and therapists in prioritizing treatment targets given the high rate of comorbidity in EDs.

PURPOSE Network studies of eating disorder (ED) symptoms have identified central and bridge symptoms in Western samples, yet few network models of ED symptoms have been tested in non-Western samples, especially among preadolescents. The current study tested a network model of ED symptoms in Iranian preadolescents (ages 9 to 13), as well as a model of co-occurring social anxiety disorder (SAD) and ED symptoms. METHOD Preadolescent boys (n = 405) and girls (n = 325) completed the Children Eating Attitudes Test-20 and Social Anxiety Scale for Children. We estimated two network models (ED and ED/SAD networks) and identified central and bridge symptoms, as well as tested if these models differed by sex. RESULTS We found that discomfort eating sweets were the most central symptoms in ED networks. Concern over being judged was central in networks including both ED and SAD symptoms. Additionally, concern over being judged was the strongest bridge symptoms. Networks did not differ by sex. CONCLUSION Future research is needed to test if interventions focused on bridge symptoms (i.e., concern over being judged) as primary intervention points target comorbid ED-SAD pathology in preadolescents at risk for ED and SAD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III; Evidence obtained from well-designed observational study, including case-control design for relevant aspects of the study.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders (EDs) are individually debilitating and highly comorbid conditions. Childhood abuse is a prominent risk factor for PTSD and ED symptoms both individually and as a comorbid syndrome (PTSD-ED). There may be a functional association between comorbid PTSD-ED symptoms whereby disordered eating behaviors are used to avoid trauma-related thoughts and feelings. The current study used a network analytic approach to examine key associations between PTSD and ED symptom subscales (i.e., PCL-5 and EPSI, respectively) in a community sample of 120 adults who endorsed at least one experience of childhood abuse (i.e., physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; witnessing domestic violence). Participants completed an anonymous online survey using Amazon's Mechanical Turk Prime. We used three network analysis indices (i.e., strength centrality, key players, and bridge symptoms) to identify symptoms that may maintain the comorbid PTSD-ED network. The results indicated that reexperiencing symptoms had the highest strength centrality in the PTSD-ED network and bridged the PTSD and ED clusters. For ED, cognitive restraint was a bridge to all PTSD symptoms. Hyperarousal, negative alterations in cognitions and mood (NACM), and purging were key players, indicating they are integral to the network structure. If replicated in prospective studies, these results may indicate that reexperiencing and cognitive restraint are core drivers of PTSD-ED comorbidity, whereas hyperarousal, NACM, and purging may be downstream consequences maintaining the comorbid condition. Concurrent treatments that address PTSD and ED symptoms simultaneously may result in the best outcomes.

Enhanced cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT-E) is one of the primary evidence-based treatments for adults with eating disorders (EDs). However, up to 50% of individuals do not respond to CBT-E, likely because of the high heterogeneity present even within similar diagnoses. This high heterogeneity, especially in regard to presenting pathology, makes it difficult to develop a treatment based “on averages” and for clinicians to accurately pinpoint which symptoms should be targeted in treatment. As such, new models based at both the group, and individual level, are needed to more accurately refine targets for personalized evidence-based treatments that can lead to full remission. The current study (Expected N = 120 anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa) will build both group and individual longitudinal models of ED behaviors, cognitions, affect, and physiology. We will collect data for 30 days utilizing a mobile application to assess behaviors, cognition, and affect and a sensor wristband that assesses physiology (heart rate, acceleration). We will also collect outcome data at 1- and 6-month follow-ups to assess ED outcomes and remission status. These data will allow for identification of “on average” and “individual” targets that maintain ED pathology and test if these targets predict outcomes, including ED remission.

Rumination syndrome (RS) is often treated in medical settings with 1–2 sessions of diaphragmatic breathing to target reflexive abdominal wall contraction in response to conditioned cues (e.g., food). However, many patients remain symptomatic and require additional behavioral interventions. In an attempt to augment diaphragmatic breathing with additional interventions, we tested the proof-of-concept of a comprehensive Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for RS. In an uncontrolled trial, adults with RS completed a 5–8 session CBT protocol, delivered by one of two psychology behavioral health providers. CBT included two main phases: awareness training and diaphragmatic breathing (Phase 1) and modularized interventions chosen by the therapist and patient to target secondary maintenance mechanisms (Phase 2). At pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up, participants completed a semi-structured interview on RS symptoms with an independent evaluator. Of 10 eligible individuals (ages 20–67 years, 50% female) offered treatment, all 10 initiated treatment and eight completed it. All participants endorsed high treatment credibility at Session 1. Permutation-based repeated measures ANOVA showed participants achieved large reductions in regurgitations across treatment [F(1,7) = 17.7, p = .007, η p 2 = .69]. Although participants reduced regurgitations with diaphragmatic breathing during Phase 1, addition of other CBT strategies in Phase 2 produced further large reductions [F(1,7) = 6.3, p = .04, η p 2 = .47]. Of eight treatment completers, treatment gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up for n = 6. Findings provide evidence of feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for a comprehensive CBT for RS that includes interventions in addition to diaphragmatic breathing to target secondary maintenance mechanisms. Randomized controlled trials are needed.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the optimal treatment of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for cognitive-behavioral therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) in children and adolescents. METHODS: Males and females (ages 10–17 years) were offered 20–30 sessions of CBT-AR delivered in a family-based or individual format. RESULTS: Of 25 eligible individuals, 20 initiated treatment, including 17 completers and three dropouts. Using intent-to-treat analyses, clinicians rated 17 patients (85%) as “much improved” or “very much improved.” ARFID severity scores (on the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview) significantly decreased per both patient and parent report. Patients incorporated a mean of 16.7 (SD = 12.1) new foods from pre- to post-treatment. The underweight subgroup showed a significant weight gain of 11.5 (SD = 6.0) pounds, moving from the 10(th) to the 20(th) percentile for body mass index. At post-treatment, 70% of patients no longer met criteria for ARFID. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of an outpatient manualized psychosocial treatment for ARFID in older adolescents. Findings provide evidence of feasibility, acceptability, and proof-of-concept for CBT-AR. Randomized controlled trials are needed.

Background Eating disorders (EDs) are severe mental illnesses, with high morbidity, mortality, and societal burden. EDs are extremely heterogenous, and only 50% of patients currently respond to first-line treatments. Personalized and effective treatments for EDs are drastically needed. Methods The current study (N = 34 participants with an ED diagnosis collected throughout the United States) aimed to investigate best methods informing how to select personalized treatment targets utilizing idiographic network analysis, which could then be used for evidence based personalized treatment development. We present initial data collected via experience sampling (i.e., ecological momentary assessment) over the course of 15 days, 5 times a day (75 total measurement points) that were used to select treatment targets for a personalized treatment for EDs. Results Overall, we found that treatment targets were highly variable, with less than 50% of individuals endorsing central symptoms related to weight and shape, consistent with current treatment response rates for treatments designed to target those symptoms. We also found that different aspects of selection methods (e.g., number of items, type of centrality measure) impacted treatment target selection. Conclusions We discuss implications of these data, how to use idiographic network analysis to personalize treatment, and identify areas that need future research. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04183894. Registered 3 December 2019—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04183894. NCT04183894 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40337-021-00504-7., Plain English Summary Eating disorders are severe psychiatric illnesses that carry high mortality, morbidity, and societal and personal burden. Treatments for eating disorders only work in 50% of patients, signifying a great need to improve treatments. One reason that treatments may not work, is because eating disorders vary substantially from one individual to the next, which existing treatments do not fully consider. The current study (N = 34 participants with an eating disorder diagnosis) uses a new modeling technique to identify which symptoms should be targeted in treatment in a personalized manner. As expected, we found that, using this modeling technique, symptoms that should be targeted in treatment vary considerably. We discuss how to use this modeling technique to identify individual treatment targets and ways in which the field can use this strategy to improve existing and create new treatments. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40337-021-00504-7.

Objective Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by significant anxiety during mealtime that contributes to food avoidance and weight loss. Individuals with EDs commonly use avoidance coping (e.g., distraction) to tolerate meals and comply with meal plans. Although this strategy may be effective short term, a large body of anxiety literature suggests that avoidance can lead to worsening of psychological symptoms long term. Method The current study (N = 66 individuals diagnosed with ED) used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the short-term and long-term associations of avoidance coping on ED symptoms. Results Distraction during meals predicted a reduction in anxiety in the short term, and both distraction and avoidance of emotions predicted increases in excessive exercise in the short term. Distraction and avoidance of emotions predicted increases in bulimic symptoms 1 month after completion of EMA. Discussion These results are consistent with prior literature on avoidance and suggest that avoidance coping during meals may contribute to the increase of ED behaviors in the long term. Coping strategies that encourage approach and tolerance of difficult thoughts and emotions (e.g., acceptance-based strategies) rather that avoidance coping may promote longer-term symptom reduction.

Objective We examined the association between sleep quality and academic performance by attending to university students' self-defined goals to increase studying behaviors over a four-week period. Methods We evaluated this association in 100 undergraduates, who self-elected to change their studying behaviors and were randomly assigned to one of three interventions (action planning, dissonance-based, or reflection). Results We found a negative association between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline and subsequent studying time over the next four weeks, reflecting a small to medium effect size (partial r = .21). Depressive symptoms did not mediate the predictive influence of sleep quality on studying behavior. Intervention type did not influence the association between sleep quality and studying time. Conclusions The predictive significance of sleep quality, in the context of the failure of effects for the randomized interventions, underscores the potential for intervening with sleep as part of efforts to improve academic behaviors.

Objective The cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) model of eating disorders suggests that compensatory purging behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting, inappropriate laxative use) are primarily driven by binge eating. However, many individuals endorse purging in the absence of binge eating (i.e., noncompensatory purging [NCP]). Research is needed to understand why some individuals purge in the absence of objective or subjective binge-eating episodes. Method Given the importance of overvaluation of shape/weight in the CBT model, and the existing evidence linking temperamental characteristics like behavioral inhibition (i.e., the tendency to withdraw in response to threat cues) with purging in general, we tested whether behavioral inhibition moderated the relationship between overvaluation of shape/weight and NCP in a sample of individuals in a residential eating disorder treatment center (N = 143). Results Overvaluation was more strongly related to NCP in individuals with high (relative to low) levels of behavioral inhibition. Among individuals low in behavioral inhibition, overvaluation predicted engagement in NCP to a much weaker extent. Discussion For those high (relative to low) in behavioral inhibition, both emotional avoidance and overvaluation may be important targets in the treatment of NCP, particularly in the absence of binge eating.

BACKGROUND Animal models and human studies have identified the potential of modafinil as a cognitive enhancing agent, independent of its effects on promoting wakefulness in sleep-deprived samples. Given that single-dose applications of other putative memory enhancers (eg, D-cycloserine, yohimbine, and methylene blue) have shown success in enhancing clinical outcomes for anxiety-related disorders, we conducted a meta-analytic review examining the potential for single-dose effects for modafinil on cognitive functioning in non-sleep-deprived adults. METHODS A total of 19 placebo-controlled trials that examined the effects of single-dose modafinil versus placebo on the cognitive domains of attention, executive functioning, memory, or processing speed were identified, allowing for the calculation of 67 cognitive domain-specific effect sizes. RESULTS The overall positive effect of modafinil over placebo across all cognitive domains was small and significant (g = 0.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.15; P < 0.001). No significant differences between cognitive domains were found. Likewise, no significant moderation was found for modafinil dose (100 mg vs 200 mg) or for the populations studied (psychiatric vs nonpsychiatric). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the available evidence indicates only limited potential for modafinil to act as a cognitive enhancer outside sleep-deprived populations.

Network studies of eating disorder (ED) symptoms have identified central and bridge symptoms in Western samples, yet few network models of ED symptoms have been tested in non-Western samples, especially among preadolescents. The current study tested a network model of ED symptoms in Iranian preadolescents (ages 9 to 13), as well as a model of co-occurring social anxiety disorder (SAD) and ED symptoms.Preadolescent boys (n = 405) and girls (n = 325) completed the Children Eating Attitudes Test-20 and Social Anxiety Scale for Children. We estimated two network models (ED and ED/SAD networks) and identified central and bridge symptoms, as well as tested if these models differed by sex.We found that discomfort eating sweets were the most central symptoms in ED networks. Concern over being judged was central in networks including both ED and SAD symptoms. Additionally, concern over being judged was the strongest bridge symptoms. Networks did not differ by sex.Future research is needed to test if interventions focused on bridge symptoms (i.e., concern over being judged) as primary intervention points target comorbid ED-SAD pathology in preadolescents at risk for ED and SAD.Level III; Evidence obtained from well-designed observational study, including case-control design for relevant aspects of the study.

Introduction Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental illnesses with high rates of mortality, morbidity, and personal and societal costs. Onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to increased ED diagnoses in the general public, as well as worsening of ED symptoms in those with an existing ED diagnosis. Heightened prevalence and severity of EDs during the pandemic is complicated by the fact that traditional modes of ED care (specialty intensive treatment provided by a multidisciplinary team) have been difficult to access during the pandemic. Methods The current between-groups study (N = 93 ED) tested a multidisciplinary intensive outpatient program (IOP) delivered via in-person (pre-pandemic; n = 60) and virtually via telehealth (during the pandemic; n = 33). Results We found no differences in outcomes via delivery mode, such that regardless of in-person versus telehealth programming, ED symptoms, depression, and perfectionism significantly decreased and body mass index significantly increased. Conclusions Our findings suggest that a multi-disciplinary telehealth ED IOP program is feasible and has comparable outcomes to in-person IOP treatment. These findings have implications for treatment beyond the pandemic, suggesting that adoption of telehealth IOPs is warranted. Such delivery modes of intensive treatments for EDs could be expanded to reach underserved populations, especially in rural areas where treatment is often difficult to access.

AIM Engagement in risky behaviours, including substance use, disordered eating, suicidal behaviour, and peer victimization/violence, during adolescence is becoming increasingly prevalent. These risky behaviours are highly comorbid and associated with long-term consequences for health, relationships, and socioeconomic status, representing an important public health concern. Past research has primarily investigated risky behaviours in adolescence using latent variable models, which are based on assumptions that may limit insight into the complex reality of these behaviours. METHODS The current study uses network analysis to examine adolescent substance use, disordered eating, suicide risk, and peer victimization/violence in a national (N = 29 008) and state-level (Kentucky; N = 3455) epidemiological dataset. We calculated central and bridge symptoms and compared network structure based on demographic factors (race, sex, grade) and sample (state vs. nation). RESULTS The most central symptoms were suicidal ideation and attempts, stimulant drug use, and prescription drug misuse. The most central bridge symptoms were depression, methamphetamine use, peer violence, and suicide attempts. There were no differences in network structure between samples or across demographic factors in the Kentucky sample. There were differences in network structure across sex and race in the national dataset. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest stimulant use, suicidal ideation, depression, and peer violence may contribute to the high rates and co-occurrence of risky behaviours in adolescence. Based on network theory, these symptoms may represent important targets for intervention. Due to network differences, special considerations may be necessary to adapt such interventions to meet the needs of students from different backgrounds.

Background: Psychiatric comorbidity is common in eating disorders (EDs) and associated with poor outcomes, including increased risk for relapse and premature death. Yet little is known about comorbidity following ED recovery. Methods: We examined two common comorbidities, major depressive disorder (MDD) and substance use disorder (SUD), in adult women with intake diagnoses of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa who participated in a 22-year longitudinal study. One hundred and seventy-six of 228 surviving participants (77.2%) were interviewed 22 years after study entry using the Eating Disorders Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation to assess ED recovery status. Sixty-four percent (n = 113) were recovered from their ED. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV was used to assess MDD and SUD at 22 years. Results: At 22-year follow-up, 28% (n = 49) met criteria for MDD, and 6% (n = 11) met criteria for SUD. Those who recovered from their ED were 2.17 times more likely not to have MDD at 22-year follow-up (95% CI [1.10, 4.26], p = .023) and 5.33 times more likely not to have a SUD at 22-year follow-up than those who had not recovered from their ED (95% CI [1.36, 20.90], p = .008). Conclusion: Compared to those who had not fully recovered from their ED, those who had recovered were twice as likely not to be diagnosed with MDD in the past year and five times as likely not to be diagnosed with SUDs in the past year. These findings provide evidence that long-term recovery from EDs is associated with recovery from or absence of these common major comorbidities. Because comorbidity in EDs can predict poor outcomes, including greater risk for relapse and premature death, our findings of reduced risk for psychiatric comorbidity following recovery at long-term follow-up is cause for optimism. Keywords: Eating disorders, Recovery, Major depressive disorder, Substance use disorder

Although muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a new addition to DSM-5 as a specifier of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), previous studies have treated MD as a stand-alone diagnosis. We aimed to assess the validity of MD as a stand-alone diagnosis via systematic and meta-analytic review of MD literature using both Robins and Guze criteria and additional criteria from Kendler.We performed a systematic search of ProQuest, PsycInfo, and PubMed databases for the period of January 1993 to October 2019 resulting in 40 papers to examine Robins and Guze's criteria (clinical picture) as well as those added by Kendler (antecedent validators; concurrent validators; predictive validators).We identified two distinct symptomatic presentations of MD using cluster analysis, a behavioral type and cognitive/behavioral type. For examining the concurrent validators, quantitative meta-analyses differentiated MD populations from controls; however, results were inconclusive in delineating MD from existing disorders. For assessing antecedent and predictive validators, the symptomatic profiles, treatment response, and familial links for MD were similar to those for BDD and for eating disorders.We found preliminary support for MD as a clinically valid presentation, but insufficient evidence to determine whether it is best categorized as a specifier of BDD or unique psychiatric condition.Aunque la dismorfia muscular (MD, por sus siglas en inglés) es una nueva adición al DSM-5 como un especificador del trastorno dismórfico corporal (BDD, por sus siglas en inglés), los estudios previos han tratado la MD como un diagnóstico independiente. El objetivo fue evaluar la validez de la MD como un diagnóstico independiente a través de revisiones sistemáticas y metaanalíticas de la literatura de MD utilizando los criterios de Robin y Guze (1970) y los criterios adicionales de Kendler (1980). MÉTODO: Realizamos una búsqueda sistemática de las bases de datos ProQuest, PsycInfo y PubMed para el período de enero de 1993 a octubre de 2019, lo que resultó en 40 documentos para examinar los criterios de Robins y Guze (cuadro clínico), así como los agregados por Kendler (validadores antecedentes; validadores concurrentes; validadores predictivos). RESULTADOS: identificamos dos presentaciones sintomáticas distintas de MD mediante análisis de conglomerados, una de tipo conductual y una de tipo cognitivo / conductual. Para examinar los validadores concurrentes, los metaanálisis cuantitativos diferenciaron las poblaciones de MD de los controles; sin embargo, los resultados no fueron concluyentes para delinear la MD de los trastornos existentes. Para evaluar los validadores antecedente y predictivo, los perfiles sintomáticos, la respuesta al tratamiento y los vínculos familiares para la MD fueron similares a los de la BDD y los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. DISCUSIÓN: Encontramos apoyo preliminar para la MD como una presentación clínicamente válida, pero evidencia insuficiente para determinar si se clasifica mejor como un especificador de BDD o una condición psiquiátrica única.

Objective This study examined the relationship between eating-disorder behaviors-including restrictive eating, binge eating, and purging-and suicidal ideation. We hypothesized that restrictive eating would significantly predict suicidal ideation, beyond the effects of binge eating/purging. Methods Participants were 82 adolescents and young adults with low-weight eating disorders. We conducted a hierarchical logistic regression, with binge eating and purging in Step 1 and restrictive eating in Step 2, to predict suicidal ideation. Results Step 1 was significant (p = .01) and explained 20% variance in suicidal ideation; neither binge eating nor purging significantly predicted suicidal ideation. Adding restrictive eating in Step 2 significantly improved the model (ΔR2 = .07, p = .009). This final model explained 27% of the variance, and restrictive eating (but not binge eating/purging) significantly predicted suicidal ideation (p = .02). Discussion Restrictive eating is associated with suicidal ideation in youth with low-weight eating disorders, beyond the effects of other eating-disorder behaviors. Although healthcare providers may be more likely to screen for suicidality in patients with binge eating and purging, our findings indicate clinicians should regularly assess suicide and self-injury in patients with restrictive eating. Future research examining how individuals progress from suicidal ideation to suicidal attempts can further enhance our understanding of suicide in eating disorders.

Objective We aimed to characterize the current and lifetime prevalence of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses and suicidality in treatment- and nontreatment-seeking individuals with full and subthreshold avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). We also sought to examine unique associations between the three DSM-5 ARFID profiles (i.e., sensory sensitivity, fear of aversive consequences, and lack of interest in food or eating) and specific categories of psychiatric diagnoses and suicidality. Method We conducted structured clinical interviews with 74 children and adolescents with full or sub threshold ARFID to assess the presence of comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, suicidality, and the severity of each of the three ARFID profiles. Results Nearly half of the sample (45%) met criteria for a current comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, and over half (53%) met criteria for a lifetime comorbid diagnosis. A total of 8% endorsed current suicidality and 14% endorsed lifetime suicidality. Severity in the sensory sensitivity profile was uniquely associated with greater odds of comorbid disorders in the neurodevelopmental, disruptive, and conduct disorders category; the anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders category; and the depressive and bipolar-related disorders category. Severity in the fear of aversive consequences profile was associated with greater odds of disorders in the anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders category. Discussion Our findings underscore the severity of psychopathology among individuals with ARFID and related presentations, and also highlight the potential that shared psychopathology between specific ARFID profiles and other psychiatric disorders represent transdiagnostic constructs (e.g., avoidant behavior) that may be relevant treatment targets.

Co-rumination is associated with positive friendship quality (thought to buffer against anxiety and depression) but paradoxically higher levels of anxiety and depression. With the increasing use of technology for communication among adults, there is little known about co-rumination effects across different modalities of communication. In the current study, we examined co-rumination through four methods (i.e. in person, phone calls, text messaging, and social media) in two separate samples - college students and participants from the community. Classic co-rumination effects were found for in-person communications, and we found that co-rumination by telephone as well as by texting, for a college student sample only, mirrors some of these findings for in-person co-rumination. In studies of co-rumination, evaluation of multiple modes of communication is warranted.

OBJECTIVE: Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and anorexia nervosa (AN) are restrictive eating disorders. There is a proposal before the American Psychiatric Association to broaden the current DSM-5 criteria for ARFID, which currently require dietary intake that is inadequate to support energy or nutritional needs. We compared the clinical presentations of ARFID and AN in an outpatient sample to determine how a more inclusive definition of ARFID, heterogeneous for age and weight status, is distinct from AN. METHODS: As part of standard care, 138 individuals with AN or ARFID completed an online assessment battery and agreed to include their responses in research. RESULTS: Individuals with ARFID were younger, reported earlier age of onset, and had higher percent median BMI (%mBMI) than those with AN (all ps < .001). Individuals with ARFID scored lower on measures of eating pathology, depression, anxiety, and clinical impairment (all ps < .05), but did not differ from those with AN on restrictive eating (p = .52), and scored higher on food neophobia (p < .001). DISCUSSION: Allowing psychosocial impairment to be sufficient for an ARFID diagnosis resulted in a clinical picture of ARFID such that %mBMI was higher (and in the normal range) compared with AN. Differences in gender distribution, age, and age of onset remained consistent with previous research. Both groups reported similar levels of dietary restriction, although ARFID can be distinguished by relatively higher levels of food neophobia. Currently available measures of eating pathology may capture certain ARFID symptoms, but highlight the need for measures of impairment relative to ARFID.

The Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) is a 45-item self-report measure of eating pathology designed to be sensitive in assessing symptoms among diverse populations of individuals with disordered eating. The current study represents the first external validation of the EPSI as well as the first to examine the factor structure in an outpatient eating disorder clinic sample. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis in three separate samples: an outpatient clinic sample (n = 284), a college sample (n = 296), and a community sample (n = 341) and compared the observed factor structures to the original 8-factor solution proposed by Forbush et al. (2013). We also investigated whether the subscales correlated with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and a clinical impairment measure among the outpatient clinic sample. Results suggested between 7 and 8 factors for each of the three samples. Our findings largely replicated those of the original EPSI development study, excepting some deviations in the Muscle Building, Cognitive Restraint, and Excessive Exercise subscales. However, confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling produced poor model fit, which may be related to the item heterogeneity within many of the subscales. Finally, eating disorder attitudes and behaviors assessed by the EPSI were significantly correlated with the EDE-Q and with clinical impairment. Overall, our results highlight both strengths and limitations of the EPSI. Findings provide preliminary support for the use of the EPSI among research with diverse populations, and present several avenues for future research for enhancing clinical utility.