Citation

Davico C, Amianto F, Gaiotti F, Lasorsa C, Peloso A, Bosia C, Vesco S, Arletti L, Reale L, Vitiello B. Compr. Psychiatry 2019; 94: e152115.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Turin, Italy; Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Sciences, Regina Margherita Pediatric Hospital, Turin, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.comppsych.2019.152115

PMID

31513949

Abstract

PURPOSE: About one-fifth of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). This study examined clinical and temperament profile of female adolescents with both disorders (AN+NSSI) as compared with peers with AN only.

METHODS: A consecutive sample of 73 female adolescents with AN (mean age: 13.77 years), who had been admitted to inpatient or day-hospital services, received clinical, cognitive, and temperament/character evaluations. Of them, 32 met DSM-5 criteria also for NSSI. Assessments included demographics, standard nutrition parameters, Youth Self-Report (YSR), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV (WISC-IV), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF).

RESULTS: No differences were detected between AN+NSSI and AN in demographics, body mass index, or age at onset of AN. AN+NSSI had higher rate of binging and purging, higher YSR scores for both internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, lower total IQ, and lower Self-directedness and Cooperativeness scores.

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that adolescents with AN+NSSI have psychopathological, cognitive and overall character features that differ from patients with AN only. These characteristics may have implications for treatment and outcome.

Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Anorexia nervosa; Intelligence; Non-suicidal self-injury; Temperament