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Social media influence on Eating Disorders since COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study
- F. Micanti, G. Spennato, R. Claudio, E. Amoroso, M. D’Ambrosio, V. M. Saia, A. Barone, M. Tadic, D. Galletta, M. Vannini
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S218
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Introduction
Several studies show a negative impact of mass media contents on adolescents’ mental health, especially on perceived body uneasiness. COVID-19 lockdown determined an increased use of social networks (SN). Psychiatrists highlighted an increase in Eating Disorders’ (ED) diagnoses.
ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to assess the pattern of SN use in patients with ED using a self-administered questionnaire.
Methods30 patients with clinical diagnosis of ED (Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa or Binge eating disorder) admitted to the ED unit, underwent clinical assessment, and filed a questionnaire on SN use. The questionnaire assesses time spent on SN, weight-control apps use, exposure to fitness- or food-related contents and to ED-promoting contents, distractibility, weight changes and feeling of body uneasiness.
ResultsMean age was 20.63 (SD 4.71), mean BMI 20.24 (SD 5.27); 93.3% (28) of patients were females. Eating behaviours were divided into restrictive type (66.7%, 20) or binge/bulimic (33.3%, 10). 16.7% (5) of patients reported self-injury behaviours. In 46.7% (14) of cases, the onset of the ED occurred during COVID-19 pandemic; the remaining 53.3% (16) experienced a relapse of a previous ED during this period. 66.7% (20) of subjects reported an increased use of social media and fitness apps. 90% (27) experienced weight changes during the pandemic, with 76.7% (23) seeking nutritional or psychological interventions. 53.3% (16) perceived an increase in body- or food-related contents on their SN feeds, with 50% declaring of knowing the meaning of the terms pro-ana and pro-mia.
Table 1 displays reported answers to the questionnaire. Table 2 shows mean age of patients according to self-injury behaviours and to the onset time of ED.
Table 1. Questionnaire subscales (n) Rarely occurred % (n) Often occurred % (n) Increase of time spent on SNs (30) 33.3% (10) 66.7% (20) Distractibility (30) 70% (21) 30% (9) Self-injury contents (30) 96.7% (1) 3.3% (29) Body uneasiness (30) 26.7% (8) 73.3% (22) Pro-ana/pro-mia contents influence (15) 53.3% (8) 46.7% (7) Body- and food-related contents influence (30) 20% (6) 80% (24) Table 2. Eating disorders features (n) Mean age (SD) Self-injury – Yes (5) 18.20 (1.92) p<0.05 Self-injury – No (25) 21.12 (4.97) Onset during Covid-19 pandemic (14) 18.29 (1.82) p<0.01 Worsening during Covid-19 pandemic (16) 22.69 (5.51) ConclusionsED onset during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-injury behaviours appear as pivotal characteristics of younger patients, displaying a greater severity of the disorder in our clinical experience. With a more consistent number of patients, it would be possible to correlate SN use and body- and food-related contents to the onset and the severity of ED, focusing on pandemic periods.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The relationship between alexithymia and Nyght Eating Syndrome
- F. Micanti, E. Amoroso, M. Vannini, C. Ricci, G. Spennato, M. D’Ambrosio, M. Billeci, H. Lamberti
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S421-S422
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Introduction
NES is characterized by daytime anorexia, sleep difficulties with nocturnal food intake, resulting in obesity (Stunkard et al. Am J of Med. 1955; 19 78-86). Alexithymia refers to the impairment in recognizing and describing feelings. The impairment in distinguishing emotions from body sensations may lead patients to confuse emotional arousal with physical hunger (Sifneos et al. Mod. trends psychosom. med. 1976; 3 430-439). This mechanism could lead to nocturnal food intake. Alexithymia was firstly described in BED and was related to BED severity.
ObjectivesTo our knowledge no studies have investigated the relationship between alexithymia and NES. The aim of the present study was to assess alexithymia in patients with NES, to improve surgical and nutritional outcomes.
Methods110 patients with clinical diagnosis of NES admitted to the Eating Disorder Unit, between 2013 and 2022 underwent psychiatric assessment for bariatric surgery. Clinical assessment consisted of clinical interview and the following psychometric rating scales: 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Eating Disorder Inventory 2, specifically the Interoceptive Awareness subscale; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale; Binge Eating Scale.
ResultsThe mean BES score was 24.14(SD 8.23), computed on 107 patients, of which 16 (14.5%) had no or minimal binge eating problems and 91 (82.7%) had moderate-severe binge eating problems. The mean TAS total score was 55.11(12.92), computed on 103 patients. 42 patients had a TAS-20 total score ≤50 and were categorized as non-alexithymic, and 61 had a TAS-20 total score >50 and were categorized as alexithymic. Simple linear regression was used to test if TAS-20 total score significantly predicted EDI-IA in the whole sample (97 patients). The overall regression was statistically significant (R2=0.27, F(1,96)=35.46, p< .001) and TAS total score significantly predicted EDI-IA score (β=0.519, p<.001). In the alexithymic group, the regression was statistically significant (R2=0.305, F(1,57)=25.07, p< .001) and TAS total score significantly predicted EDI-IA score (β=0.553, p<.001).
Whole sample Alexithymic Non-alexithymic p Female (%) 79(71.8) N=110 48(64.9) N=62 26(35.1) N=42 .087 Age mean(SD) 36.41(12.6) N=110 34.65(12.7) N=62 38.48(11.31) N=42 .11 BMI mean(SD) 44.05(7.61) N=106 43.97(7.9) N=60 43.82(7.38) N=40 .92 TAS mean(SD) 55.11(12.92) N=103 64.05(7.06) N=61 42.12(7.13) N=42 <.001* BIS mean(SD) 67.58(10.35) N=98 70.07(9.93) N=59 63.26 (9.85) N=35 .002* BES mean(SD) 24.14(8.23) N=107 25.7(6.89) N=62 21(9.25) N=40 .004* EDI-IA mean(SD) 8.95(6.44) N=103 10.82(7) N=60 6.05(4.44) N=39 .000* * significant difference between alexithymic and non-alexithymic groups according to independent sample t-test.
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ConclusionsIn patients with NES, alexithymia significantly predicts poor interoceptive awareness, thus explaining excessive nocturnal food intake.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The influence of demographic factors on subjective cognitive concerns and beta-amyloid
- Sarah L. Aghjayan, Rachel F. Buckley, Patrizia Vannini, Dorene M. Rentz, Jonathan D. Jackson, Reisa A. Sperling, Keith A. Johnson, Rebecca E. Amariglio
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- Journal:
- International Psychogeriatrics / Volume 29 / Issue 4 / April 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 October 2016, pp. 645-652
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Background:
Converging evidence suggests that subjective cognitive concerns (SCC) are associated with biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) prior to objective clinical impairment. However, the sensitivity of SCC reports in early AD may be biased by demographic factors. Here, we sought to investigate whether age, education, and sex influence the relationship between SCC and amyloid (Aβ) burden.
Methods:In this cross-sectional study, we examined 252 clinically normal (CN) individuals (57.7% females) enrolled in the Harvard Aging Brain Study, ages 63–90 years (mean 73.7±6) with 6–20 years of education (mean 15.8±3). SCC was assessed as a composite score comprising three questionnaires. Cortical Aβ burden was assessed with Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography imaging. A series of linear regression models assessed the potential modifying role of demographic variables with respect to Aβ burden and SCC. A post-hoc mediation model was implemented to further understand the relationship between Aβ burden and SCC via their relationship with education.
Results:Age (β = −0.84, p = 0.36) and sex (β = −0.55, p = 0.22) did not modify the relationship between SCC and Aβ burden. Fewer years of education was correlated with greater SCC (r = −0.12, p = 0.05), but the relationship between Aβ burden and SCC was stronger in those with more education (β = 1.16, p < 0.05). A partial mediation effect was found of Aβ burden on SCC via education (b = −0.12, 95% CI [−0.31, −0.02]).
Conclusions:These findings suggest that the association between SCC and Aβ burden becomes stronger with greater educational attainment. Thus, SCC may be of particular importance in highly educated CN individuals harboring amyloid pathology.
Electron-beam sustained discharge XeCl laser
- E. Fiorentino, T. Letardi, A. Marino, E. Sabia, M. Vannini
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- Journal:
- Laser and Particle Beams / Volume 3 / Issue 4 / November 1985
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 March 2009, pp. 319-345
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In this work the construction characteristics and performances of a laser system operating with an e-beam sustained discharge are described. Operating with XeCl, the laser pulse energy is over 4 J. Details of the measurements on the system are also reported.