Review of the burden of eating disorders:mortality, disability, costs, quality of life, and family burden

Purpose of review To review the recent literature on the burden of eating disorders in terms of mortality, disability, quality of life, economic cost, and family burden, compared with people without an eating disorder. Recent findings Estimates are that yearly over 3.3 million healthy life years worldwide are lost because of eating disorders. In contrast to other mental disorders, in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa years lived with disability (YLDs) have increased. Despite treatment advances, mortality rates of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa remain very high: those who have received inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa still have a more than five times increased mortality risk. Mortality risks for bulimia nervosa, and for anorexia nervosa treated outside the hospital, are lower but still about twice those of controls. In people with an eating disorder, quality of life is reduced, yearly healthcare costs are 48% higher than in the general population, the presence of mental health comorbidity is associated with 48% lower yearly earnings, the number of offspring is reduced, and risks for adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes are increased. People with a current or former eating disorder are at risk of increased mortality, high YLD rates, a reduced quality of life, increased costs, and problems with childbearing

Pubertal Status and Problem Behavior: An epidemiological study of 11-year-olds

Subject of the present dissertation are the results of the first point of measurement of a longitudinal research project studying changes in the distribution of behavioral/emotional problems over puberty. The aim is to investigate the role of maturational stage in the distribution of behavioral/emotional problems. It is described how the amount of problems and their patterning are distributed in an epidemiological sample of young adolescents in the larger Rotterdam area. Attention is paid to socicreconomic differences and (dis-)agreement between informants

Review of the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of eating disorders

Purpose of review To review the recent literature on the impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on incidence and severity of symptoms of eating disorders (EDs). Recent findings A worrying increase of EDs in- and outpatients has been reported since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2019/2020. Restrictions implemented during the pandemic to protect populations against COVID-19 increased the risk for onset and for worsening of EDs by disrupting eating and exercise routines, social isolation, lack of support, and limited access to healthcare. Substantial increases since the start of the pandemic have been reported for overall incidence (15%), hospital admissions (48%) and emergency department visits (11%) for EDs, with even higher increases among women and children or adolescents with an ED. During the pandemic, ED patients reported increased severity of ED-specific symptoms and increased anxiety, depression and suicidal ideations and -attempts. Treatments shifted largely toward online methods for continuity of care, despite concerns about the quality of care provided and difficulties in self-monitoring. Our review provides preliminary evidence for a similar effectiveness of online treatment to prepandemic face-to-face treatment. In-person assessment remains essential for detecting EDs and for those requiring medical admission. Although the ongoing COVID-2019 pandemic affected mental health globally, research shows that it particularly affected individuals with an ED diagnosis or at risk for an ED, especially women, children and adolescents, and those with anorexia nervosa

Incidence, prevalence and mortality of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

To review the recent literature on the epidemiology of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in terms of incidence, prevalence and mortality. RECENT FINDINGS: Although the overall incidence rate of anorexia nervosa is considerably stable over the past decades, the incidence among younger persons (aged <15 years) has increased. It is unclear whether this reflects earlier detection or earlier age of onset. Nevertheless, it has implications for future research into risk factors and for prevention programs. For bulimia nervosa, there has been a decline in overall incidence rate over time. The lifetime prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa might be up to 4% among females and 0.3% among males. Regarding bulimia nervosa, up to 3% of females and more than 1% of males suffer from this disorder during their lifetime. While epidemiological studies in the past mainly focused on young females from Western countries, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are reported worldwide among males and females from all ages. Both eating disorders may carry a five or more times increased mortality risk. SUMMARY: Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa occur worldwide among females and males of all age groups and are associated with an increased mortality risk

Increase in incidence of anorexia nervosa among 10- to 14-year-old girls:A nationwide study in the Netherlands over four decades

Objective: This primary care study examined time trends in the incidence of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) in the Netherlands across four decades. Methods: A nationwide network of general practitioners, serving approximately 1% of the total Dutch population, recorded newly diagnosed patients with AN and BN in their practices from 1985 to 2019 (2,890,978 person-years). DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were consistently used and the same psychiatrist was responsible for the final diagnostic decision. Incidence rates (IRs) were calculated for: the total population (all ages), females overall, and females per 5-year age category. Time trends in IRs were analyzed using JoinPoint regression analyses. Results: In four decades, the incidence of AN among 10- to 14-year-old females increased significantly from 8.6 to 38.6 per 100,000 person-years (average period percentage change [APPC] = 56.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.5–130.6. The overall incidence of AN was stable, with IRs ranging from 6.0 (95% CI = 4.3–8.1) to 8.4 (95% CI = 6.4–10.8). The IR of BN decreased significantly from 8.7 (95% CI = 6.7–11.0) to 3.2 (95% CI = 2.0–4.9) in the 2000s, before leveling off in the 2010s (IR 3.2; 95% CI = 2.0–4.8). Discussion: The incidence of AN among 10- to 14-year-old girls increased significantly over four decades. Both biological and sociocultural factors, for example, early pubertal timing and the impact of social media, might explain this. In other age groups and overall, the incidence of AN remained stable. The significant decrease of the incidence of BN in the previous decades halted in the last decade. Public Significance: An important finding of the present study is that for 10- to 14-year-old girls, the risk for developing anorexia nervosa has increased significantly over 40 years. More healthcare facilities for younger people are needed, and prevention programs could include social media use. For bulimia nervosa, the general decrease in the occurrence of new cases has halted in the 2010s.</p

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Usual Care Before Bariatric Surgery:One-Year Follow-Up Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Although early results of bariatric surgery are beneficial for most patients, some patients regain weight later. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been suggested as a way to improve patients' psychological health and maintaining weight loss in the longer term. The added value of preoperative CBT to bariatric surgery was examined. Pre- and posttreatment and 1-year follow-up data are presented. Methods In a multi-center randomized controlled trial, CBT was compared to a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group. Measurements were conducted pre- and posttreatment/pre-surgery (T0 and T1) and at 1-year post-surgery (T2). Patients in the intervention group received 10 individual, weekly sessions of preoperative CBT focused on modifying thoughts and behaviors regarding eating behavior, physical exercise, and postoperative life style. Outcome measures included weight change, eating behavior, eating disorders, depression, quality of life, and overall psychological health. Results Though no significant differences between conditions were found per time point, in the CBT, condition scores on external eating, emotional eating, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress decreased significantly more over time between pre- (T0) and posttreatment (T1) pre-surgery compared to TAU. No significant time x condition differences were found at 1-year post-surgery (T2). Conclusions Compared to TAU, preoperative CBT showed beneficial effects on eating behavior and psychological symptoms only from pretreatment to posttreatment/pre-surgery, but not from pre-surgery to 1-year post-surgery. Preoperative CBT does not seem to contribute to better long-term outcomes post-surgery. Recent studies suggest that the optimal time to initiate psychological treatment may be early in the postoperative period, before significant weight regain has occurred

Course of psychotic experiences and disorders among apprentice traditional health practitioners in rural South Africa:3-year follow-up study

Background: Culture is inevitably linked with the experience, interpretation and course of what modern biomedicine understands to be psychotic symptoms. However, data on psychoses in low- and middle-income countries are sparse. Our previous study showed that psychotic and mood-related experiences, symptoms and disorders are common among individuals who had received the ancestral calling to become a traditional health practitioner (THP) in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Our related ethnographic study suggested that ukuthwasa (the training to become a THP) may positively moderate these calling-related symptoms. As far as we know, no research has been conducted into the course of psychiatric symptoms among apprentice THPs. Objective: We studied the course of psychotic experiences, symptoms and disorders among apprentice THPs. We also assessed their level of functioning and expanded our knowledge on ukuthwasa. Materials and methods: We performed a 3-year follow-up of a baseline sample of apprentice THPs (n = 48). Psychiatric assessments (CAPE, SCAN), assessment of functioning (WHODAS) and a semi-structured qualitative questionnaire were completed for 42 individuals. Results: At 3-year follow-up, psychotic experiences were associated with significantly less distress and there was a reduction in frequency of psychotic symptoms compared to baseline. The number of participants with psychotic disorders had decreased from 7 (17%) to 4 (10%). Six out of seven participants (86%) with a psychotic disorder at baseline no longer had a psychiatric diagnosis at follow-up. Although the mean level of disability among the (apprentice) THPs corresponded with the 78th percentile found in the general population, 37 participants (88%) reported no or mild disability. Forty-one participants (98%) reported that ukuthwasa had positively influenced their psychiatric symptoms. Conclusion: In rural KwaZulu-Natal, psychotic experiences, symptoms and disorders have a benign course in most individuals who are undergoing the process of becoming a THP. Ukuthwasa may be an effective, culturally sanctioned, healing intervention for some selected individuals, potentially because it reframes distressing experiences into positive and highly valued experiences, reduces stigma, and enhances social empowerment and identity construction. This implies that cultural and spiritual interventions can have a positive influence on the course of psychosis

Prevalence of treated autism spectrum disorders in Aruba

To study autism outside of a narrow range of settings previously studied, and in a particularly distinctive setting in the Caribbean. The aim of the Aruba Autism Project was to determine the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in birth years 1990–1999 in Aruba. A record review study was conducted; cases were ascertained from children treated at the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic of Aruba, the first and only child psychiatry service on the island. In these 10 birth years we found a prevalence for autistic disorder (AD) of 1.9 per 1,000 (95% CI 1.2–2.8) and for autism spectrum disorders of 5.3 per 1,000 (95% CI 4.1–6.7). Comparison analysis with a cumulative incidence report from the UK, showed a similar cumulative incidence to age five in Aruba. Prevalence of ASDs in birth years 1990–1999 and cumulative incidence to age five in Aruba are similar to recent reports from the United Kingdom and the United States