Dr. Adams
05-25-2008, 10:24 AM
"Individuals in whom the development of anorexia nervosa is preceded by overanxious disorder of childhood present with more severe eating disorder pathology, according to new research findings.
Childhood anxiety often precedes the onset of anorexia nervosa (AN) and may mark a liability to the emergence of an eating disorder for some women.
Women with AN and OAD exhibited more extreme personality traits and attitudes than those without OAD, the researchers found. These women also engaged in more compensatory behaviors.
Individuals with OAD were more likely than those without OAD to develop additional anxiety disorders. More participants with OAD were also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, or specific phobia.
They note that the diagnosis of OAD as a distinct childhood disorder is "somewhat artificial," and in DSM-IV it was subsumed by the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.
Nonetheless, they conclude, "an OAD pathway may represent one entree into AN," so their findings highlight the importance of detecting OAD early and possibly averting an eating disorder.
Int J Eat Disord 2008;41:326-332.
Childhood anxiety often precedes the onset of anorexia nervosa (AN) and may mark a liability to the emergence of an eating disorder for some women.
Women with AN and OAD exhibited more extreme personality traits and attitudes than those without OAD, the researchers found. These women also engaged in more compensatory behaviors.
Individuals with OAD were more likely than those without OAD to develop additional anxiety disorders. More participants with OAD were also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, or specific phobia.
They note that the diagnosis of OAD as a distinct childhood disorder is "somewhat artificial," and in DSM-IV it was subsumed by the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder.
Nonetheless, they conclude, "an OAD pathway may represent one entree into AN," so their findings highlight the importance of detecting OAD early and possibly averting an eating disorder.
Int J Eat Disord 2008;41:326-332.