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Disorders Unit (disorders + unit)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Psychology	50%
Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Assessing motivation to change in bulimia nervosa: the bulimia nervosa stages of change questionnaire

EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 1 2007
Esteve Martinez
Abstract Objective To assess motivation to change in adolescent patients with bulimia nervosa through the Bulimia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (BNSOCQ), an instrument adapted from the Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ) already validated in anorexic patients. Method Subjects were 30 bulimia nervosa patients (mean age,=,16.3 years) who were receiving treatment at an eating disorders unit. The evaluation instruments were: the BNSOCQ, the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-2) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The BNSOCQ was re-administered 1 week later to evaluate test-retest reliability. Results The BNSOCQ demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha,=,0.94) and one week test-retest reliability (Pearson's r,=,0.93). Negative significant correlations were found between the BNSOCQ and several EDI-2 scales (Pearson's r between ,0.51 and ,0.84) and the BDI (r,=,,0.74). Conclusion The study provides initial support for the reliability and validity of the BNSOCQ as a self-report instrument for assessing motivation to change in adolescents with bulimia nervosa. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source]

Gastric adenocarcinoma mistakenly diagnosed as an eating disorder: Case report

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 3 2010
FRANZCP, Leit-Chin Siew MBBS
Abstract Objective: A number of organic conditions may mimic the symptoms of an eating disorder, however, gastric outlet obstruction mimicking anorexia nervosa has rarely been reported. Method: We report the case of a 51-year-old female admitted to an eating disorders unit with an initial diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Results: The patient's upper gastrointestinal symptoms and weight loss were found to be secondary to gastric outlet obstruction from a gastric adenocarcinoma. Coincidental psychosocial stressors and past psychiatric history, among other factors, had confounded the diagnosis. Discussion: Organic causes of weight loss and upper gastrointestinal symptoms need to be fully excluded prior to making the diagnosis of an eating disorder, particularly when there are atypical features in the presentation. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010 [source]

"Ice" use and eating disorders: A report of three cases

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 2 2009
Alice Neale MD
Abstract Objective: To describe the use of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride "ice," a powerful, synthetic stimulant drug associated with rapid weight loss. Method: We report the first three cases of young women "ice" users requiring admission to a specialized eating disorders unit. Results: Case one had no prior history of an eating disorder and became emaciated following regular use of "ice"; she regarded weight gain positively. Case 2 had polysubstance abuse since early adolescence and commenced binge eating and vomiting in response to weight gain when not using "ice"; she learned to maintain her weight without weight losing behaviors. Case 3 developed anorexia nervosa in early adolescence, required numerous inpatient admissions and commenced using stimulant drugs for weight loss in her late teens; she discharged prematurely. All patients had features of personality disorder on interview and drug abuse had impaired their work and social adjustment. Discussion: "Ice" use may be associated with the onset of disordered eating or used as an efficient weight losing behavior in an established eating disorder. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009. [source]

Severe obstructive sleep apnea: Sleepy versus nonsleepy patients

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 3 2010
Arie Oksenberg PhD
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: To compare demographic and polysomnographic data of sleepy versus nonsleepy severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients according to the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Methods: Six hundred forty-four consecutive severe (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] , 30) adult OSA patients who underwent a polysomnographic evaluation in our sleep disorders unit. ESS data were available in 569 (88.3%). Three hundred twenty-seven (57.5%) patients had ESS > 10. Results: Sleepy severe OSA patients are slightly younger and more obese than nonsleepy patients. These sleepy patients have shorter sleep latency and lower percentage of slow wave sleep. They consistently show a higher AHI, both supine and lateral AHI, have a higher number of short arousals, and a higher arousal index. They also have higher snoring loudness in the supine and both lateral positions and a lower minimal SaO2 in rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep. After adjusting for confounders, a logistic regression model points to apnea index as a significant prognostic factor for excessive daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: Severe OSA sleepy patients have a syndrome that is significantly more severe than nonsleepy patients. Sleepy patients have worse sleep-related breathing parameters, and their sleep patterns are lighter and more fragmented than nonsleepy patients. Apnea index appears as an important prognostic factor for excessive daytime sleepiness. Laryngoscope, 2010 [source]

Melancholic symptoms as assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and outcomes with and without electroconvulsive therapy on an in-patient mood disorders unit

ACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 1 2010
Keith G. Rasmussen
Rasmussen KG, Stevens SR, Kung S, Mohan A. Melancholic symptoms as assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and outcomes with and without electroconvulsive therapy on an in-patient mood disorders unit. Background: We investigated whether 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HamD24)-based melancholia ratings correlated with treatment outcome, with special focus on whether electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was used in depressed patients treated on an in-patient mood disorders unit. Methods: We analysed the data on ECT- versus non-ECT-treated patients' outcomes relative to melancholia subscale scores. Two HamD24 -based melancholia rating scale scores were computed for 201 depressed in-patients at admission and discharge. Baseline melancholia ratings were analysed to see if they correlated with improvement in total HamD24 scores. We also tested to see if the melancholia subscales followed unimodal or bimodal distributions. Results: Melancholic symptoms as assessed by one of the HamD24 -based subscales directly correlated with overall improvement. Although ECT treatment was associated with greater improvement than was noted in non-ECT-treated patients, severity of melancholia ratings did not affect this relationship. Finally, both melancholia subscale scores followed approximately unimodal distributions. Conclusions: HamD24 -based methods to assess severity of melancholic symptoms have limited clinical utility on an in-patient mood disorders unit in general, and for predicting ECT response in particular. Furthermore, these methods do not seem to identify bimodal populations of depressed patients (i.e. melancholic vs. non-melancholic). [source]