Eating and Weight Disorders

, Volume 16, Issue 4, pp e280–e284 | Cite as

The level of associated depression and anxiety traits improves during weight regain in eating disorder patients

  • L. Sala
  • C. Mirabel-Sarron
  • P. Gorwood
  • A. Pham-Scottez
  • A. Blanchet
  • F. Rouillon
Brief Report
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ABSTRACT

We assessed whether re-nutrition and weight gain have an influence on comorbid depression and anxiety in patients hospitalised for chronic eating disorders (ED). Seventy-five inpatients agreed to participate by completing the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT- 40), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y) before, during and after three months of treatment. Patients suffering from either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa successfully regained weight during treatment. This weight gain was accompanied by statistically significant reductions in ED symptoms. Anxiety and, to a lesser extent, depressive symptoms diminished, but remained at pathological levels, with between diagnostic subtype differences. Improvement of depressive (r=0.77) and anxiety (r=0.64) levels were significantly (p<0.001) and positively correlated with the reduction of eating attitudes (EAT). These results are discussed in the context of re-orienting the therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing emotional suffering in patients with ED.

Key words

Anorexia nervosa bulimia nervosa eating disorders anziety 
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Copyright information

© Editrice Kurtis 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • L. Sala
    • 1
  • C. Mirabel-Sarron
    • 1
  • P. Gorwood
    • 1
  • A. Pham-Scottez
    • 1
  • A. Blanchet
    • 2
  • F. Rouillon
    • 1
  1. 1.University Paris V René DescartesClinic of Mental Illnesses & Brain Disorders, Sainte-Anne HospitalParis Cedex 14France
  2. 2.Clinical Psychology Laboratory (UFR7)Paris 8 UniversitySaint-DenisFrance

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