Publications by authors named "Jamal Essayli"

The fifth edition of defines anorexia nervosa (AN) severity based on body mass index (BMI). However, BMI categories do not reliably differentiate the intensity of AN and comorbid symptoms. Shape/weight overvaluation has been proposed as an alternative severity specifier.

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Objectives: With this study, we aim to describe transgender and nonbinary adolescents and young adults' stated gender treatment goals at the time of initial presentation to medical care.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of transgender and nonbinary patients aged 10 to 24 seeking specific gender-affirming health care. Charts were reviewed for specifically stated goals of future hormonal or surgical care for gender and analyzed by the experienced or asserted gender (man, woman, nonbinary, eclectic) of participants.

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Objective: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and current practices of adolescent primary care providers regarding the epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnosis of atypical anorexia nervosa (AN) compared to AN.

Methods: An online survey was sent to the Pediatric and Family Medicine clinicians who provide medical care to adolescents. Statistical analyses compared differences in responses to questions about atypical AN versus AN.

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This study examined the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral, family-centered partial hospitalization program (PHP) for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical AN (AAN), and described the outpatient services received following discharge. Participants (N = 31) completed anthropometric and self-report assessments at admission, discharge, and six and twelve months after discharge from the PHP. Descriptive statistics explored markers of feasibility.

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Purpose: There is very little information available regarding the health needs of transgender and gender diverse adolescents and young adults with gender dysphoria who reside in rural areas of the United States. This study aims to determine if residing in a rural area is associated with the use of telemedicine services, such as synchronous voice-video appointments, for initial contact for medical interventions for gender-related reasons in adolescents and young adults with gender incongruence.

Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review of patients (N = 176) ages 10-24 years who had an initial medical appointment for gender-related concerns between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2022.

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Objective: This study assessed the factorial, divergent, and criterion-related validity of the Youth-Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Screen (Y-NIAS) in a paediatric clinical sample at initial evaluation for an eating disorder (ED).

Method: Participants included 310 patients (82.9% female, 77.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Fear of Food Measure (FOFM) was adapted for adolescents (FOFM-A) to evaluate eating-related anxiety in youth, particularly since eating disorders are prevalent in this age group.
  • The study involved three samples of adolescents aged 11-18, showing that FOFM-A has strong reliability and validity, with good internal consistency and relevant correlations to anxiety and depression measures.
  • Adolescents with eating disorders scored significantly higher on the FOFM-A compared to those without, and a cutoff score of 1.93 effectively distinguishes between these groups, suggesting FOFM-A's potential in assessing and treating eating-related anxiety in adolescents.
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Objective: There is a lack of reliable and valid parent-report measures assessing eating disorder (ED) pathology in children and adolescents. This study aimed to develop and provide preliminary validation of a new parent-report measure, the 12-item Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Short Parent Version (EDE-QS-P).

Method: The EDE-QS-P was completed by 296 parents seeking treatment for their child at an ED clinic.

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Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shift from traditional, in-person treatment to virtual treatment for eating disorders (EDs), with little knowledge about the relative efficacy of virtual formats.

Method: In the current study, we examined baseline symptomatology and treatment outcomes of young adults in our virtual partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program (PHP/IOP) for EDs, implemented shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated outcomes on body mass index, ED symptoms, anxiety, ED-related clinical impairment, and emotion regulation.

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Objective: Exposure therapy is a promising treatment for eating disorders (EDs). However, questions remain about the effectiveness of exposure to feared foods during the weight restoration phase of treatment, and the importance of between-session and within-session habituation.

Method: We recruited 54 adolescents from a partial hospitalization program (PHP) for EDs which included daily food exposure.

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Background: This double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates the effectiveness of oral naltrexone in adolescents and young adults with eating disorders (EDs) characterized by purging with or without binge-eating behaviors. We hypothesize that participants receiving oral naltrexone will demonstrate greater improvements in body mass index in underweight participants and self-reported ED symptomatology compared to placebo.

Methods: Thirty individuals receiving treatment in a partial hospitalization program for EDs with diagnoses of anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging type, bulimia nervosa, or purging disorder will receive six weeks of either placebo or oral naltrexone.

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Objective: This study explored the preliminary effectiveness of a partial hospitalization program (PHP) for children/adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). We evaluated how ARFID symptoms changed from admission to discharge, and collected follow-up data on symptoms and outpatient care following PHP discharge.

Method: Twenty-two children/adolescents with ARFID (77.

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Little is known about patients' perceptions toward open and blind weighing for eating disorders. Upon admission to a partial hospitalization program, 35 child/adolescent patients, 55 adult patients, and 36 parents of child/adolescent patients completed questionnaires assessing attitudes toward open and blind weighing. Participants perceived blind weighing as more effective in the short term.

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Despite lack of evidence, various pharmacological agents are judiciously used to manage anxiety in avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). We aimed to explore the effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), either alone or in combination with hydroxyzine, in a well-defined cohort of children and adolescents with ARFID receiving treatment in a partial hospitalization program for eating disorders. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 53 patients with ARFID who were prescribed an SSRI ( = 39) or SSRI with hydroxyzine ( = 14).

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Anxiety and eating disorders (EDs) often co-occur, prompting calls to explore anxiety-related maintenance processes in ED samples. Safety behaviors, which function to prevent a feared outcome from occurring or to reduce anxiety associated with a feared stimulus, are observed across anxiety disorders and, along with overt avoidance behaviors, are an important target in treatment. Data suggest that individuals with EDs also engage in safety behaviors.

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Objective: Exposure therapy appears underutilized in the treatment of eating disorders (EDs), perhaps due to clinicians' concerns that patients will dislike exposure therapy. The present study aims to investigate the attitudes of child patients, adult patients, and parents of child patients with EDs toward exposure therapy relative to four other treatments for EDs.

Method: A questionnaire was administered to patients and parents (N = 126) upon admission to a partial hospitalization program for EDs.

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Eating disorders (EDs) and anxiety disorders (ADs) evidence shared risk and significant comorbidity. Recent advances in understanding of anxiety-based disorders may have direct application to research and treatment efforts for EDs. The current review presents an up-to-date, behavioral conceptualization of the overlap between anxiety-based disorders and EDs.

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Objective: The relative stigmatization of various eating disorders (ED) remains understudied, and there is no research examining stigma toward avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) or adult picky eating. The present study examined the relative stigmatization of various EDs and the subthreshold eating behaviors that are risk factors for their development, and the relation of gender differences to stigma.

Method: A sample of 1147 college students was recruited and completed the study online.

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Objective: Picky eating (PE) is common across the lifespan and related to psychosocial impairment and limited dietary variety. However, research about PE in non-Western countries is limited. Because eating behaviors may differ by culture, operationalizing PE in non-Western countries (e.

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Objective: To identify potential presentations of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in a pediatric eating disorder partial hospitalization program (PHP) based on the nature of the eating restriction leading to core symptoms of ARFID.

Method: A retrospective chart review of 83 patients ages 8-17 admitted to a PHP and diagnosed with ARFID. Charts were independently reviewed by two coders, with high inter-rater agreement (κ = 0.

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Background: Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by obsessions about eating healthily and rigid adherence to a perceived healthy diet. This study uses the Eating Habits Questionnaire to investigate the relationship of ON symptoms with self-reported food intake, eating-related impairment, obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms (OCD), gender, and BMI while controlling for other eating disordered symptoms. The aim of this study is to provide further evidence for the construct of ON as distinct from other forms of disordered eating.

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Objective: Research has indicated that adult picky eating (PE) is associated with elevated psychosocial impairment and limited dietary variety and fruit and vegetable intake; however, research operationalizing PE behaviors is limited. Previous research identified a PE profile in children, marked by high food avoidance (satiety responsiveness, fussiness, and slow eating) and low food approach (food enjoyment and responsiveness) appetitive traits. The present study aimed to replicate a similar latent eating behavior profile in an adult sample.

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The present study explores the perceived sexual orientation of hypothetical men and women with various eating disorders and obesity. Undergraduates were randomly provided with one vignette describing a male or female with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder, or obesity and were asked about the target's likely sexual orientation. Significant differences emerged between male and female targets with AN and BN on the forced-choice question, with a greater percentage of participants indicating that the male targets were probably non-heterosexual.

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Objective: To assess long-term outcomes of patients with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) treated in a partial hospitalization program (PHP) for eating disorders (ED).

Method: A cross-sectional study comparing patients with ARFID to those with anorexia nervosa (AN) who had been discharged from a PHP for at least 12 months was performed. Percent median body mass index (%MBMI), scores on the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), and treatment utilization were assessed, with intake and discharge data collected via retrospective chart review.

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