Visual Attention Patterns Toward Female Bodies in Anorexia Nervosa-An Eye-Tracking Study with Adolescents and Adults.

Attentional biases seem to play an important role in anorexia nervosa (AN). The objective of this study was to measure visual attention patterns toward female bodies in adolescents and adults with and without AN in order to explore developmental and disease-specific aspects. Female adult and adolescent patients with AN (n = 38) and control participants (n = 39) viewed standardized photographic stimuli showing women's bodies from five BMI categories.

Processing of food stimuli in anorexia nervosa: An ERP-study comparing adolescents and adults.

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with altered processing of disorder-relevant stimuli. Event-related potentials (ERP) - such as the Late Positive Potential (LPP) - give information about the underlying mechanisms of central nervous stimulus processing.

Methods: Patients with AN (22 adolescents, 23 adults) and healthy controls (HCs; 17 adolescents, 24 adults) were included.

Heart Rate as a Correlate for the Emotional Processing of Body Stimuli in Anorexia Nervosa.

In anorexia nervosa, aberrant emotional reactions toward body stimuli have been discussed. We investigated heart rate as a physiological marker when viewing body stimuli and hypothesized altered HR reactions toward those highly significant and emotional stimuli in anorexia nervosa. In total, 37 anorexia nervosa patients and 43 control participants viewed pictures of women of five different weight categories, while their cardiac activity was recorded.

Attention towards food: Conflicting mechanisms in anorexia nervosa.

In Anorexia nervosa (AN) attentional biases towards, as well as away from, food cues have been found using different paradigms. In the current study, adult and adolescent AN patients and control participants performed two tasks while their eye movements were recorded. The tasks involved viewing and rating: 1.

Neural mechanisms of perceptive and affective processing of body stimuli in anorexia nervosa - are there developmental effects?

Different components of body image processing seem to be reflected by different neural mechanisms. A core symptom of Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a disturbance of body image with correlates found on a neural level. The present study focuses on the neural processing of visual body stimuli of different weight categories in adolescent and adult AN patients.

Neural processing of food and emotional stimuli in adolescent and adult anorexia nervosa patients.

Background: A constant preoccupation with food and restrictive eating are main symptoms of anorexia nervosa (AN). Imaging studies revealed aberrant neural activation patterns in brain regions processing hedonic and reward reactions as well as-potentially aversive-emotions. An imbalance between so called "bottom-up" and "top-down" control areas is discussed.

The effect of dronabinol in a male patient with anorexia nervosa suffering from severe acute urge to be physically active.

Objective: A 27-year-old male suffering from chronic anorexia nervosa was admitted for inpatient psychotherapy suffering from severe urge to be physically active.

Methods: An off-label treatment with dronabinol was initiated, to reduce his symptoms related to that urge. Several attempts to reduce symptoms including intensive psychotherapy and several psychopharmacological agents had failed in the past.

[Media Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Review and Implications for Psychotherapy].

The posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is conceptualised as a psychological reaction upon traumatic events of distinct threat. Especially after the terrorists´ attacks of September 11th 2001, the scientific evaluation of the impact of media coverage of war and terrorism on mental functions of healthy individuals and the question whether the exposure of previously traumatised individuals to media coverage of war and disasters may act as a trigger for a trauma re-activation has begun in the US. There are positive associations between media exposure and the presence of PTSD symptoms.

Perception and evaluation of women's bodies in adolescents and adults with anorexia nervosa.

Body image disturbance in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been widely studied with regard to the patient's own body, but little is known about perception of or attitude towards other women's bodies in AN. The aim of the present study was to investigate how 20 girls aged 12-18 years and 19 adult women suffering from AN compared to 37 healthy adolescent girls and women estimate weight and attractiveness of women's bodies belonging to different BMI categories (BMI 13.8-61.

[Supporting carers of persons suffering from an eating disorder].

The purpose of this article is to describe the background and procedure of a skills training program provided for carers of patients suffering from anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Caring for someone suffering from an eating disorder is associated with psychological distress and may lead to unhelpful interactive behaviours that maintain the illness. Recent investigations in supporting carers, especially skills sharing workshops that target interpersonal maintaining factors are described.

Association between obesity and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a German community-based sample.

Objective: The goal of the present study was to examine the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity in a representative community based sample of the German population.

Method: Participants were 1,633 German residents (53.6% female) aged 18-64 years.

The estimated prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in a German community sample.

Little research on the prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD has been conducted outside the United States. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in a large representative sample of the German population aged 18-64 years (n = 1,655). Two self-rating screening instruments to assess childhood and adult ADHD symptomatology were used to estimate the prevalence of ADHD.

Internet use among patients with psychosomatic disorders: what are the health-related demands and needs?

While Internet-based health-related offers for various disorders are increasing, little is known about the way patients with psychosomatic disorders use the Internet. We conducted a questionnaire survey in outpatient clinics at two university hospitals' Departments of Psychosomatic Medicine. Seventy-four percent of N = 274 patients had Internet home access and 60 percent of those patients reported health-related Internet use.

The needs of carers: a comparison between eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Objective: This pilot study compares the level of distress and the need for support between carers of patients with anorexia (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and carers of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Thirty-two carers of patients suffering from AN and BN and 30 carers of patients with schizophrenia filled out the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the burden inventory (BI). In addition, they were interviewed with a semi-structured research interview, the carers' needs assessment (CNA), to assess relevant problem areas as well as the need for helpful interventions.

The needs of carers of patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Objective: This study aims to assess the degree of distress and the need for support of carers of patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa (BN).

Methods: Thirty-two carers filled out the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Burden Inventory (BI). In addition, they were interviewed with a semi-structured research interview, the Carers' Needs Assessment (CNA), to assess relevant problem areas as well as the needs for helpful interventions.