Examining Clinical Symptoms and Personological Traits in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: A Network Analysis Approach

IF 2.5 3区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Journal of Clinical Psychology Pub Date : 2025-07-19 DOI:10.1002/jclp.70018

Catherine Lessard, Alexandra Bédard, Elsa Rousseau, Dominique Meilleur, Caroline Pesant, Danielle Taddeo, Nathalie Gingras, Giuseppina Di Meglio, Pierre-Olivier Nadeau, Richard Bélanger, Holly Agostino, Isabelle Thibault, Chantal Stheneur, Jean-Yves Frappier, Catherine Bégin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Despite advancements in treatment, research indicates that fewer than half of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) achieve full recovery by the end of their treatment. Network analysis provides a novel framework for understanding the central features of this complex psychopathology, potentially identifying critical elements that could enhance intervention strategies. While evidence suggests that personality traits play a significant role in the etiology, symptomatic expression, and maintenance of AN, no studies have yet utilized network analysis to explore the relationships among personality traits, eating disorder (ED) symptoms, and common psychiatric comorbidities in adolescents with AN. This study aims to fill this gap by applying network analysis to examine the interplay between ED symptoms, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and personality traits in a sample of 243 adolescents with AN (92.6% female), aged 12 to 17 years (M age = 14.7 ± 1.4), recruited from five University Health Centers across Quebec, Canada.

Methods

Upon admission, participants completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), the Children's Depression Inventory 2 (CDI 2), and the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). All variables were incorporated into a network analysis.

Results

The analysis revealed that submissive, conforming, self-demeaning, and inhibited personality traits were central nodes. Among ED symptoms, drive for thinness was the most prominent, with depressive symptoms exhibiting the highest centrality among comorbid conditions.

Conclusion

These results highlight the complex interplay between ED symptoms, psychiatric comorbidities, and personality traits in adolescents with AN. These findings suggest that interventions may benefit from focusing on emotional regulation and interpersonal dynamics, with particular attention to assertiveness training and strategies to help adolescents express and address their needs in relationships.

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研究青少年神经性厌食症的临床症状和人格特征：网络分析方法。

目的：尽管治疗取得了进步，但研究表明，不到一半的神经性厌食症（AN）患者在治疗结束时完全康复。网络分析为理解这种复杂精神病理学的核心特征提供了一个新的框架，潜在地识别出可以增强干预策略的关键因素。虽然有证据表明人格特质在AN的病因、症状表现和维持中起着重要作用，但尚未有研究利用网络分析来探讨人格特质、饮食障碍（ED）症状和青少年AN常见精神合并症之间的关系。本研究旨在通过应用网络分析来研究ED症状、焦虑和抑郁症状以及人格特征之间的相互作用，以填补这一空白，该研究招募了来自加拿大魁北克省五所大学健康中心的243名患有AN的青少年（92.6%为女性），年龄在12至17岁之间（M年龄= 14.7±1.4）。方法：入院时，参与者完成饮食失调量表3 （edi3）、儿童多维焦虑量表（MASC）、儿童抑郁量表2 （CDI 2）和百万青少年临床量表（MACI）。所有变量被纳入网络分析。结果：分析发现，顺从、顺从、自我贬低和抑制人格特征是中心节点。在ED症状中，消瘦的驱动力最为突出，抑郁症状在合并症中表现出最高的中心性。结论：这些结果强调了AN青少年ED症状、精神合并症和人格特征之间复杂的相互作用。这些发现表明，干预可能会受益于关注情绪调节和人际动态，特别关注自信训练和策略，以帮助青少年表达和解决他们在关系中的需求。

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来源期刊

Journal of Clinical Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

5.40

自引率

3.30%

发文量

177

期刊介绍： Founded in 1945, the Journal of Clinical Psychology is a peer-reviewed forum devoted to research, assessment, and practice. Published eight times a year, the Journal includes research studies; articles on contemporary professional issues, single case research; brief reports (including dissertations in brief); notes from the field; and news and notes. In addition to papers on psychopathology, psychodiagnostics, and the psychotherapeutic process, the journal welcomes articles focusing on psychotherapy effectiveness research, psychological assessment and treatment matching, clinical outcomes, clinical health psychology, and behavioral medicine.