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Diagnostic, clinical, and personality correlates of food anxiety during a food exposure in patients diagnosed with an eating disorder

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Eating disorders are characterized by high levels of anxiety, especially while eating. However, little is known about anxiety experienced during meals and specifically what other variables may impact such anxiety.

Objective

We sought to further quantify and understand the relationship between food anxiety, eating disorders, and related correlates (e.g., comorbid diagnoses, personality).

Methods

In the current study [N = 42 participants diagnosed with an eating disorder (n = 36 participants with anorexia nervosa)], we quantified anxiety before, during, and after a meal using data from a food exposure session in a partial hospital eating disorder center. We examined diagnostic, personality, and clinical factors as correlates of food anxiety.

Results

Participants were more likely to experience higher food anxiety if they had a current diagnosis of major depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Concern over mistakes was the strongest and most consistent correlate of food anxiety regardless of time during the meal that anxiety was assessed. Other significant correlates were fear of positive evaluation, social appearance anxiety, BMI, and trust.

Conclusions

These findings show how diagnoses, perfectionism (concern over mistakes), and other correlates relate to anxiety during meals. Food exposure interventions may benefit from personalizations that address these factors.

Level of evidence

IV Evidence from a randomized control trial, but from the first session before effects of the design would be present.

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Funding

This research was supported by NIMH F31-MH096433 to Cheri A. Levinson. The funding source had no role in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Cheri A. Levinson & Jackie Ma

  2. Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA

    Margarita Sala

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Stuart Murray

  4. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Thomas L. Rodebaugh

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Eric J. Lenze

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  1. Cheri A. Levinson
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  2. Margarita Sala
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  3. Stuart Murray
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  4. Jackie Ma
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  5. Thomas L. Rodebaugh
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  6. Eric J. Lenze
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Correspondence to Cheri A. Levinson.

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The Washington University IRB approved all procedures in this study and all the procedures performed in the current study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendment.

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Levinson, C.A., Sala, M., Murray, S. et al. Diagnostic, clinical, and personality correlates of food anxiety during a food exposure in patients diagnosed with an eating disorder. Eat Weight Disord 24, 1079–1088 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00669-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00669-w

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