Sim, Leslie

AbstractDifferential susceptibility, a reconceptualization of the diathesis‐stress model of psychopathology, describes gene–environment interactions that reflect individual differences in responsiveness to environmental influences, both detrimental and beneficial. This model has been described metaphorically by the classification of orchids, which thrive under optimal care but wither under adverse conditions, and dandelions, which weather broad environmental circumstances but are less responsive to careful cultivation. Etiological research in the field of eating disorders has largely focused on the identification of specific behavioral phenotypes, temperamental traits, genotypes and neurobiological processes that confer risk. In this article, we propose that these putative vulnerability factors represent phenotypes and endophenotypes of a genetic predisposition towards environmental sensitivity. We assert that this sensitivity not only transmits eating disorder risk but also confers resilience, depending on the circumstances. In particular, we propose that differential susceptibility can be used as a framework to organize disparate temperamental and neurobiological findings and their complex interplay with various developmental, environmental and sociocultural influences to increase eating disorder risk and treatment responsiveness. Finally, we assert that viewed through the lens of differential susceptibility, sensitivity can be leveraged to refine our interventions and develop novel treatment and prevention strategies to support favorable outcomes for individuals with eating disorders.

Eating disorders involve irregularities in eating behavior that may cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Consequently, many patients with eating disorders seek gastroenterological healthcare at some point in their illness, with many seeking this care even before they seek treatment for and/or diagnosed with their eating disorder. As such, the gastroenterology provider is in a unique position to identify, manage, and facilitate treatment for an eating disorder early in the course of the illness. Although assessing eating disorders is already a difficult task, the identification of eating disorders in patients with GI disease represents an even greater challenge. In particular, common GI symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and bloating, may disguise an eating disorder because these symptoms are often viewed as a sufficient impetus for dietary restriction and subsequent weight loss. In addition, the focus on identifying an organic etiology for the GI symptoms can distract providers from considering an eating disorder. During this prolonged diagnostic evaluation, the eating disorder can progress in severity and become more difficult to treat. Unfortunately, a misconception that hinders eating disorder detection is the notion that the rate or method of weight loss is associated with an eating disorder. Regardless of whether weight loss is slow or rapid, purposeful or accidental, eating disorder behaviors and thought patterns may be present. Unidentified eating disorders are not only dangerous in their own right but also can interfere with effective management of GI disease and its symptoms. As such, it is imperative for the GI provider to remain well versed in the identification of these diseases.

ABSTRACT: Objective: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is estimated to occur in up to 1% of adolescents, with symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and pain impacting daily functioning. However, many risk factors and symptoms for POTS overlap with those of youth with disordered eating, and adolescents with POTS may be at increased risk for developing eating disorders. Therefore, the present study sought to better understand this overlap. We hypothesized that patients with POTS would have higher than expected rates of weight change, restrictive eating patterns, and food sensitivities. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 96 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with POTS who were participating in a 3-week intensive interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program. We conducted descriptive and correlational statistical analyses on data from self-report measures, biomarkers of nutritional status, and abstracted information about eating and weight concerns from medical notes. Results: Nearly 3 quarters of participants described engaging in restrictive eating, and more than half of them described experiencing weight loss. They also endorsed experiencing food allergies, celiac disease, and eating disorder at higher rates than would be expected in the general population. One-fifth of the sample had experienced invasive interventions to correct for nutritional imbalances, such as having a feeding tube. Conclusion: Weight and eating are clear areas of risk for patients with orthostatic intolerance. It is essential that treatment team members thoroughly screen for eating disturbances and make recommendations that support regular and balanced eating habits.

Objective: To determine intervention needs and to gather stakeholder input regarding healthy eating promotion for youth members served at a Boys & Girls Club in Rochester, Minnesota. Design: Mixed-methods design informed by community-based participatory research principles. Setting and Method: Young people completed a dietary habits questionnaire and height and weight measure-ments. Focus groups gathered stakeholder – Boys & Girls Club members, staff, caregivers – perspectives on opportunities to improve children’s healthy eating through the club setting. Content analysis identified major themes in informants’ accounts. Results: Participants identified individual and environmental barriers to healthy eating and opportunities to reduce barriers at this Boys & Girls Club site. Few children met basic nutritional guidelines related to fruit, vegetable, milk and water consumption, and limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, and nearly half were overweight/obese. Stakeholders expressed interest in healthy eating promotion and identified multiple individual-level, interpersonal and environmental opportunities to promote healthier eating through the Boys & Girls Club site. Conclusion: Findings build on a growing literature indicating afterschool programmes are uniquely positioned to address health disparities related to paediatric nutrition and obesity, and can be used to inform the design of a multi-layered intervention to address the complexities influencing dietary quality and obesity among diverse and underserved youth.

Abstract Objective This study used mixed methods to evaluate caregiver perspectives on recovery from an eating disorder. Method Caregivers ( N = 387) completed an online survey about their child's weight history, treatment history, illness trajectory, and recovery. Results Children were predominantly females with adolescent onset anorexia nervosa and currently 18.4 years old on average. Qualitative analysis of caregivers' open‐ended definitions of recovery revealed seven distinct recovery domains, including (a) weight (45%); (b) body image, eating disorder cognitions, and related emotions (54%); (c) eating behavior (71%); (d) independence and responsibility in eating disorder management (28%); (e) physical health (21%); (f) psychological well‐being (31%); and (g) life worth living (27%). Most (72%) reported that their child had achieved partial or full recovery at some point in their lifetime. Only 20% reported that their child had ever achieved full recovery, but 93% of those had sustained recovery over time (i.e., no relapses since achieving recovery). Physical recovery occurred on average 2.7 years after eating disorder onset, followed shortly by social and emotional recovery (2.9 years), and finally behavioral (3.4 years) and cognitive (3.9 years) recovery, which occurred at weights 6–7 pounds higher than those at which physical recovery was achieved. Discussion Findings suggest that caregivers hold a multifaceted view of recovery that includes not only weight restoration and symptom reduction, but also full engagement in social and occupational activities, establishment of a meaningful life, cognitive flexibility, and emotional well‐being. These data support clinical observations that physical and behavioral recovery precede cognitive recovery.

This study explored the growth of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) frequency over 2.5 years in a clinical sample of adolescent girls. Following a functional model of NSSI, the contribution of emotion dysregulation, peer victimization, and psychological maladjustment were evaluated as the predictors of NSSI trajectories. Participants of 99 girls ( M age = 16.03 years) were admitted for psychiatric hospitalization, who responded to questionnaires assessing NSSI, emotion dysregulation, relational and overt peer victimization, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. NSSI was also assessed at 6 months and 2.5 years following the baseline assessment. Linear mixed modeling estimated NSSI frequency over time. The findings highlight the stable nature of NSSI and the contribution of emotion dysregulation and internalizing symptoms to NSSI patterns. Peer victimization and externalizing behavior problems were not the significant predictors. Developing interventions targeting these NSSI predictors early in girls’ development may prevent the emergence and maintenance of NSSI.

AbstractBackgroundMost research on family impacts of paediatric chronic pain has been conducted with mothers, and therefore, little is known about fathers' adjustment. However, it is well established that caring for a child with chronic pain takes a toll on caregiver well‐being. Parents of children with chronic pain have been found to experience high levels of anxiety, depression, and parenting stress. As such, the goal of this study was to examine differences between mothers and fathers of youth with chronic pain, explore interaction effects between parent gender and child variables, and compare parents' scores to national norms.MethodsParticipants included 160 matched mothers and fathers of youth with chronic pain participating in an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programme. At admission, parents completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression scale and SF‐36 to assess depression and health‐related quality of life. T tests and analysis of variance were used to explore differences between mothers and fathers and population norms.ResultsMothers reported experiencing significantly poorer functioning than did fathers in the domains of emotional role interference, social functioning, and vitality. Differences remained significant when controlling for other psychosocial variables using multiple regression. Child gender and depression level were found to be significant predictors of parent mental health, with mothers' mental health more negatively influenced by child depression. Additionally, mothers' scores in mental health domains were significantly lower than population norms.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the importance of identifying the ways in which chronic pain in youth may affect parents differently in order to enhance caregiver support and interventions.