Publications by authors named "Hunna Watson"
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of deaths worldwide and significantly impacted people with eating disorders, exacerbating symptoms and limiting access to care. This study examined the association between COVID-19 death-related loss-defined as the death of a family member, friend, or acquaintance due to COVID-19-and mental health among people with preexisting eating disorders in the United States (US), the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Method: Participants with a history of eating disorders completed a baseline survey early in the pandemic (US: N = 511; Netherlands: N = 510; Sweden: N = 982) and monthly (US, the Netherlands) or biannual (Sweden) follow-ups from April 2020 to May 2021.
Article Synopsis
- - This study is the first large-scale examination of rare copy number variants (CNVs) in anorexia nervosa (AN), involving data from 7,414 AN cases and 5,044 controls to explore their potential genetic links to the disorder.
- - The researchers investigated both well-known syndromic CNVs and those associated with other diseases but found no significant links between these variants and AN; however, they identified 21 potential CNV regions that may play a role in AN risk, particularly in areas related to metabolic and neurodevelopmental factors.
- - Ultimately, the findings suggest that rare CNVs have a limited impact on the development of AN, aligning it with other psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, and indicate that
Article Synopsis
- - This study aimed to identify biomarkers related to anorexia nervosa (AN) by analyzing data from various published studies up to mid-2022.
- - It found that certain biomarkers, like acylated ghrelin and cortisol, were significantly higher in individuals with AN, while others, such as leptin and insulin, were lower compared to non-AN controls.
- - The findings suggest that these peripheral biomarkers could be important for understanding the biological mechanisms behind AN and might lead to improved personalized treatments in the future.
Article Synopsis
- - There is a significant link between perfectionism and eating disorders, with suggested reciprocal relationships involving compulsive exercise in adolescents.
- - A study of 301 adolescent females with eating disorders revealed that perfectionism directly influences both eating disorder symptoms and compulsive exercise, and these factors can indirectly affect one another.
- - The findings highlight the need for future research on the cognitive-behavioral model of compulsive exercise, indicating that addressing perfectionism and compulsive exercise may enhance treatment options for eating disorders.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on postpartum depression (PPD), a hereditary form of major depressive disorder, using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to explore its genetic basis across various populations.
- It analyzed data from 18,770 PPD cases and 58,461 controls, finding no single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that met genome-wide significance, though it highlighted significant genetic correlations with other mental health conditions.
- The findings suggest that PPD is polygenic and heritable, potentially involving unique genetic factors despite its close relationship with major depressive disorder and implicate specific brain neurons associated with its treatment.
Article Synopsis
- A study analyzed characteristics of 762 individuals with bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder to understand differences between those who accessed treatment and those who did not.
- Results showed that untreated individuals were more likely to identify as male and from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds, while treated individuals had a more severe illness history and greater comorbid mental health symptoms.
- The findings highlight the need for tailored support for diverse groups with eating disorders, particularly for those who may not seek or receive treatment.
Eating disorders affect millions of people worldwide, but most never receive treatment. The majority of clinical research on eating disorders has focused on individuals recruited from treatment settings, which may not represent the broader population of people with eating disorders. This study compared the characteristics of individuals with eating disorders based on whether they self-reported accessing treatment or not, to identify potential differences and contribute to a better understanding of the diverse needs and experiences of individuals with eating disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges in accessing and receiving treatment for individuals with eating disorders (EDs). The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions of and experiences with ED treatment during the first year of the pandemic among individuals with past and self-reported EDs in the United States.
Methods: Online surveys were administered to adults (N = 510) with a past or current self-reported ED at 13 timepoints between April 2020 and May 2021.
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic and public health mitigation measures have negatively impacted individuals with eating disorders (ED). We evaluated changes in and predictors of ED symptoms, pandemic-related ED concerns, and anxiety symptoms across the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with self-reported EDs in the United States (US), Sweden (SE), and the Netherlands (NL).
Method: Participants in the US (N = 510), SE (N = 982), and NL (N = 510) completed an online survey assessing ED symptoms (binge eating, restriction, compensatory behaviors, and anxiety about being unable to exercise), general anxiety symptoms, and pandemic-related ED concerns about accessing food, lack of structure and social support, being in a triggering environment, and food and treatment costs.
Article Synopsis
- The study compares individuals with binge-eating disorder (BED) who also have a history of anorexia nervosa (AN) to those with only BED, highlighting differences in symptom severity and clinical history.* -
- Results show that those with BED and AN (BED AN+) experience earlier and more chronic eating disorder symptoms, higher prevalence of bulimia, and worse mental health, alongside lower body mass indexes (BMIs).* -
- The findings suggest that all BED patients should be assessed for mental health issues and gastrointestinal problems, as those with a history of AN face significantly greater challenges in managing their eating disorders.*
Article Synopsis
- Perfectionism is closely linked to eating disorders, with research indicating it influences symptoms both directly and indirectly through compulsive exercise.
- A study involving 149 underweight female adolescents (ages 13-17) with various eating disorder diagnoses found significant connections between perfectionism, compulsive exercise, and eating disorder symptoms.
- Results suggest that compulsive exercise plays a crucial role in the relationship between perfectionism and eating disorders, highlighting the need for targeted treatment approaches in adolescents.
Objective: We assessed eating disorder (ED) illness status, symptomatology, treatment access, anxiety, and depression in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with a pre-existing ED in the United States (US), the Netherlands (NL), and Sweden (SE).
Methods: Participants completed online surveys in April-July 2020, at the early stage of the pandemic, and one year later. At one-year follow-up, we added questions addressing retrospective changes in ED symptoms, treatment, and anxiety/depression since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background And Objectives: Guided and unguided self-help prevention and treatment interventions for eating disorders delivered via traditional book format or internet delivery have been widely researched, but no reviews have focused specifically on young people. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy of randomised controlled trials of self-help interventions for eating disorders in young people with a mean age between 13 and 24 years.
Methods: A total of 8 intervention groups across 7 publications of self-help interventions which were prevention and treatment trials for eating disorders, were identified (N = 985 participants; mean pooled age = ∼19 years).
Article Synopsis
- The study explored the relationship between perfectionism and self-concept in men at different stages of eating disorder recovery, using a comprehensive definition of recovery that includes physical, behavioral, and cognitive aspects.
- It involved 35 men with eating disorder histories, divided into groups based on their recovery status, and compared them with 27 control men without such histories, using surveys and measurements to assess their conditions.
- Results indicated that fully recovered men demonstrated significantly lower levels of socially prescribed perfectionism and higher self-esteem and self-efficacy compared to those still struggling with eating disorders, suggesting that a healthy self-concept and low perfectionism are key to full recovery; further research with larger samples is needed to confirm these findings.
Article Synopsis
- Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, involve complex issues of weight and appetite along with behavioral and psychological elements.
- Current research is advancing our understanding of these disorders through genetics, neurobiology, and various scientific methods, but these fields have primarily developed separately without much collaboration.
- The review advocates for integrating findings across these areas to better identify biological pathways, improve prevention and intervention strategies, and stimulate the creation of effective medications targeting the core biological factors of eating disorders.
Objective: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered face-to-face and via the internet reduces bulimia nervosa (BN) symptoms. However, our empirical understanding of factors affecting patient outcomes is limited.
Method: Using data from a randomised, controlled trial comparing internet-based (CBT4BN, n = 78) with face-to-face (CBTF2F, n = 71) group CBT (97% female, M = 28 years), we examined general treatment (across conditions) and modality-specific predictors of end-treatment and 1-year outcomes (abstinence, binge-eating frequency, purging frequency).
Article Synopsis
- Living in food-insecure households may increase the risk of binge eating and obesity, particularly among Black populations, highlighting existing racial disparities in access to food and treatment for eating disorders.
- A study using data from the National Survey of American Life found that while food insufficiency affected obesity odds in Afro-Caribbeans, it did not show a significant link with obesity among all Black Americans when considering various demographics.
- The study also indicated a connection between food insufficiency and binge eating, yet this association diminished when accounting for sociodemographic factors, suggesting a nuanced relationship that varies by ethnicity and gender.
Common Genetic Variation and Age of Onset of Anorexia Nervosa.
Biol Psychiatry Glob Open Sci
October 2022
Article Synopsis
- This study explores the role of genetics in the age of onset of anorexia nervosa (AN) by analyzing data from a large genome-wide association study involving 9,335 cases and 31,981 control participants.
- Researchers found significant genetic variations linked to typical-onset AN and identified different genetic correlations for early-onset (before age 13) and typical-onset AN, indicating distinct biological influences.
- Results suggest a genetic relationship between the age at menarche and early-onset AN, implying that earlier menarche may increase the risk of developing AN at a younger age.
Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic process across anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the efficacy of self-help and face to face CBT for perfectionism in reducing perfectionism and anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. A total of 15 randomised controlled trials of CBT for perfectionism were identified ( = 912 participants; mean pooled age = 23 years) which met inclusion criteria.
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- Latinos/as have been underrepresented in eating disorder clinical trials, leading to a study that examined a culturally adapted cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for binge-spectrum eating disorders, comparing regular CBT to CBT with a family enhancement module (CBT + FE).
- The study involved 25 Latina adult patients and their family members, showing that while CBT + FE led to better treatment adherence and satisfaction, it did not significantly improve family outcomes or eating disorder symptoms compared to standard CBT.
- Overall, the pilot study suggests that including family in treatment could be beneficial for patient retention but does not guarantee improved eating disorder outcomes.
Binge eating and purging profiles may vary in adolescents with eating disorders and this may potentially be a function of a range of cognitive and behavioural constructs. The aim was to determine whether cognitive and behavioural symptoms differed among purging profiles in 229 adolescent females (M age = 15.45).
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- * A review of 49 studies found that all forms of ghrelin (total, acyl, and desacyl) are elevated during acute AN, especially in fasting conditions, but previous distinctions between AN subtypes in ghrelin levels were not supported.
- * While there was a decrease in total ghrelin from pre-treatment to follow-up, levels remained higher than healthy controls, and it's unclear if ghrelin can reliably indicate treatment success or recovery, indicating more research is needed. *
Enabled by advances in high throughput genomic sequencing and an unprecedented level of global data sharing, molecular genetic research is beginning to unlock the biological basis of eating disorders. This invited review provides an overview of genetic discoveries in eating disorders in the genome-wide era. To date, five genome-wide association studies on eating disorders have been conducted - all on anorexia nervosa (AN).
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