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Understanding correlates and comorbidities in the treatment and recovery of adolescent eating disorders

Hicks, Ashley A, Hicks
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0636-3748
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471864039

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Human Development and Family Science.
Eating disorders are a serious mental illness characterized primarily by disturbances in eating behaviors and body image. Eating disorders often emerge during adolescence, a period in the life course that is comprised of numerous biological, psychological, and social changes. As a result, adolescent eating disorders can significantly alter the trajectory of one’s life without proper intervention. Although studies examining adolescent eating disorders are abundant, some aspects of the nature of eating disorders in adolescence remain understudied. Despite the complex nature of eating disorders, studies often focus on specific biological, psychological, or social factors associated with eating disorders. The current study, therefore, uses a biopsychosocial approach to investigate correlates and comorbidities associated with eating disorder symptoms and recovery in a clinical sample of adolescents. Secondary administrative data from an urban pediatric hospital’s eating disorder clinic were used for this investigation. This dissertation is separated into three independent studies. In chapter 2, I examine the prevalence of trauma in a sample of adolescent patient receiving outpatient treatment for an eating disorder. I use bivariate statistics and binomial and multinomial logistic regression models to examine similarities and differences in eating disorder symptoms for those with and without significant trauma exposure. Results show that over one-third of the sample experienced at least one lifetime traumatic event and traumatic exposure was significantly related to bulimia nervosa and higher weight status ( body mass index `BMI” and percent expected body weight). In the following chapter, I examine the prognostic factors associated with early weight restoration in a clinical sample of adolescents receiving outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa. Findings reveal comorbid anxiety as significant positive predictor of weight restoration at 3 month follow up. Given the importance of comorbid symptoms in the presentation of eating disorders, chapter 4 examines differences in youth and caregiver reports of anxiety and depression symptoms. I find that youth and caregiver reports of comorbid symptoms are significantly discrepant with caregivers reporting higher levels of anxiety and depression than youth. Families with younger adolescents and adolescents with subclinical threshold eating disorder symptoms reported significantly less congruence. I address limitations, future research directions, clinical implications, and implications for overall adolescent development in chapter 5.
Anastasia Snyder, PhD (Advisor)
Linda Myers, PhD (Committee Member)
Keeley Pratt, PhD (Committee Member)
Kelly Purtell , PhD (Committee Member)
131 p.
Mental Health
eating disorders; trauma; depression; anxiety; weight restoration; treatment

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hicks, Hicks, A. A. (2016). Understanding correlates and comorbidities in the treatment and recovery of adolescent eating disorders [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471864039

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hicks, Hicks, Ashley. Understanding correlates and comorbidities in the treatment and recovery of adolescent eating disorders. 2016. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471864039.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hicks, Hicks, Ashley. "Understanding correlates and comorbidities in the treatment and recovery of adolescent eating disorders." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471864039

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1471864039
1,038
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.