Obsessions are strongly related to eating disorder symptoms in anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa

• Published in: Eating behaviors : an international journal 2019-08, Vol.34, p.101298-101298, Article 101298
• Main Authors: Levinson, Cheri A., Brosof, Leigh C., Ram, Shruti Shankar, Pruitt, Alex, Russell, Street, Lenze, Eric J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anorexia nervosa; Anorexia Nervosa - complications; Anorexia Nervosa - diagnosis; Anorexia Nervosa - psychology; Atypical anorexia nervosa; Comorbidity; Compulsive Behavior; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obsessions; Obsessive Behavior - psychology; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - complications; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - diagnosis; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - psychology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychometrics; psychosocial factors; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-0153; 1873-7358
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2019.05.001

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are highly comorbid. However, little research has examined which specific cognitive-behavioral aspects (e.g., checking, obsessing) of OCD are most relevant in those with AN. Furthermore, there is no research examining aspects of OCD in Atypical AN. The current two studies (N = 139 and N = 115 individuals diagnosed with AN/Atypical AN) examined a) which aspects of OCD were most related to AN symptomatology and b) if there were differences in OCD between individuals diagnosed with AN vs Atypical AN. We found that obsessing was most related to AN symptoms. We also found that there were no substantial significant differences between AN and Atypical AN. These findings add to the literature suggesting minimal differences between AN and Atypical AN, specifically regarding OCD symptomatology. These findings clarify that obsessions (rather than compulsions) may be the specific aspect of OCD most warranting treatment intervention in AN and Atypical AN. •Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are highly comorbid.•We tested which aspects of OCD are most relevant in AN and Atypical AN.•Obsessing was most related to AN symptoms.•There were no significant differences between AN and Atypical AN in OCD symptoms.•Obsessions may need particular attention in treatments of comorbid AN-OCD.