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Illness pathways between eating disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms: Understanding comorbidity with network analysis
Author(s) -
Vanzhula Irina A.,
Calebs Benjamin,
Fewell Laura,
Levinson Cheri A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2634
Subject(s) - irritability , comorbidity , eating disorders , binge eating , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , psychological intervention , anxiety
Eating disorders (EDs) and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid. However, specific mechanisms by which PTSD‐ED comorbidity is maintained are unknown. The current study constructed two PTSD‐ED comorbidity networks (25 EDs and 17 PTSD symptoms) in two samples: a clinical ( N = 158 individuals with an ED diagnosis) and a nonclinical sample ( N = 300 college students). Glasso networks were constructed to identify (1) pathways between disorders (bridge symptoms) and (2) core symptoms. Three illness pathways emerged: between binge eating and irritability , between desire for a flat stomach and disturbing dreams , and between concentration problems and weight and shape‐related concentration problems . Our findings suggest that pathways between binge eating and irritability, body dissatisfaction and trauma reminders, and concentration difficulties may be the mechanisms by which comorbidity is maintained. Interventions disrupting these pathways and targeting core and bridge symptoms may be more efficient than traditional treatment approaches.