The recent systematic review and meta-analysis by Inal-Kaleli et al. is situated within a growing area of research, investigating the relationship between anorexia nervosa and autistic characteristics. Their synthesis of research within the topic finds support for elevated autistic characteristics and autism in individuals with anorexia nervosa and a small but significant correlation between autistic traits and level of eating disorder symptoms. In this commentary, we discuss the findings of Inal-Kaleli and colleagues and propose further research to generate insights into the nature of this link. We focus on the potential origins of the observed relationship, specific mechanisms, and manifestation of anorexia nervosa in autistic populations, and the influence of sex and gender on the intersection of eating disorders and autism. By addressing these largely unexplored research avenues, future investigations can go beyond the phenotypic correlations and facilitate the development of prevention and intervention suited for individuals experiencing both disordered eating and elevated autistic traits.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.24332 | DOI Listing |
J Eat Disord
January 2025
GGZ Rivierduinen Eating Disorders Ursula, Sandifortdreef 19, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Introduction: Overvaluation of shape and weight is a critical component in understanding and diagnosing eating disorders. While the transdiagnostic model states that overvaluation of shape and weight is the core pathology of all eating disorders, this concept is not a criterion for binge-eating disorder. The lack of recognition of overvaluation of shape and weight may lead to overlooking, and consequently failure to address this construct during treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Eat Disord Rev
January 2025
Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with disturbances in reward processing, cognitive control, and body image perception, implicating striatal dysfunction. Evidence suggests that underweight may modulate brain function in AN. We aimed to investigate whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the striatum in patients with AN while controlling for the acute effects of underweight.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Eat Disord
January 2025
Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Two recent review papers published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders have considerably elevated the rigor of scholarship on the comorbidity between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and eating disorders. One paper reported that more than one-quarter of individuals with acute anorexia nervosa also have ASD, and that autistic traits are positively correlated with eating disorder psychopathology. The other paper reported that, compared to individuals with low autistic traits, those with high autistic traits report poorer experiences of eating disorder treatment, despite similar treatment outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBJPsych Open
January 2025
Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Background: Research suggests that those caring for a loved one with an eating disorder in the UK report unmet needs and highlight areas for improvement. More research is needed to understand these experiences on a wider, national scale.
Aims: To disseminate a national survey for adults who had experience caring for a loved one with an eating disorder in the UK, informed by the findings of a smaller scale, qualitative study with parents, siblings and partners in the UK.
Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry
May 2024
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.
Objective: The aim of our study was to delineate the differences in demographics, comorbidities, and hospital outcomes by eating disorder types in adolescents and transitional-age youth (15-26 years), and measure the association with psychiatric comorbidities.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the nationwide inpatient sample (2018-2019) and included 7,435 inpatients (age 12-24 years) with a primary diagnosis of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa (AN, 71.7%), bulimia nervosa (BN, 4.
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