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Sleep disturbances in anorexia nervosa subtypes in adolescence

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This retrospective study investigated, for the first time, sleep characteristics in anorexia nervosa (AN) subtypes and the clinical profile in adolescents, as well as the quality of life (QoL) and emotionality in these patients with poor sleep.

Methods

The sample included 111 adolescents with AN. First, restrictive AN (ANR) and binge eating/purging AN (ANB/P) groups were compared in terms of self-reported sleep characteristics, sleepiness and chronotype. Second, the clinical profile, QoL, and emotionality of good sleepers (GS) and poor sleepers (PS) were compared.

Results

Compared to the ANR group, participants with ANB/P showed significantly greater sleep disturbances and sleepiness, and also a higher preference for an eveningness chronotype. Results also showed a clinical profile significantly more severe in PS than in GS. After adjustment, only the ANB/P subtype and the EDI-2 ineffectiveness subscale remained significantly linked to poor sleep. Moreover, the QoL was lower and emotionality more negative in PS with respect to GS.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that subjective sleep disturbances may be used as a clinical marker for AN severity and for ANB/P subtype. Importantly, findings suggest that improving sleep quality in adolescents with AN may help managing their ED and their comorbidities, but also improve their QoL.

Level of evidence

Level V, descriptive study (evaluation data retrospectively studied).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, Salvator Hospital, Public Assistance-Marseille Hospitals, Aix-Marseille University, 249 Boulevard Sainte-Marguerite, 13009, Marseille, France

    Flora Bat-Pitault, Catarina Da Silva, Isabelle Charvin & David Da Fonseca

  2. Institute of Neuroscience Timone, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Flora Bat-Pitault, Catarina Da Silva & David Da Fonseca

Authors
  1. Flora Bat-Pitault
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  2. Catarina Da Silva
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  3. Isabelle Charvin
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  4. David Da Fonseca
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Correspondence to Flora Bat-Pitault.

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All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments. Experimental procedures were approved by the local general data protection regulation (Ref: RGPD/AP-HM 2020–40).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study and their parents.

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The article is part of the Topical Collection on Sleep and Eating and Weight Disorders.

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Bat-Pitault, F., Da Silva, C., Charvin, I. et al. Sleep disturbances in anorexia nervosa subtypes in adolescence. Eat Weight Disord 26, 1845–1852 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01033-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01033-z

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