Anorexia Nervosa, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
anorexia nervosa, autism, pilot study, validation
Brief summary
In a pilot study, the investigators will validate a so-called autism care location in an inpatient ward. The care location will be adapted for patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and concurrent autism (AN+autism). In order to investigate the effect of a tailored care location for patients with AN + autism, the evaluation will include weight development and changes in nutritional intake, eating disorder and anxiety symptoms. The overall aim is to improve treatment for this specific AN subgroup, that otherwise has a worse prognosis regarding AN recovery.
Detailed description
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder and has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses. Adolescence is the most common age of onset. Nine out of ten people who fall ill are girls/women, and 2% of all girls/women will fall ill with AN at some point in their lives. In AN, one engages in self-starvation, which in turn leads to underweight. 75 - 80% of individuals with AN recover during adolescence, while the remainder are at high risk of developing chronic AN. For the individual, the chronic condition means great suffering in the form of serious psychiatric and somatic co-morbidity, social isolation and reduced/lack of work ability. People with autism show social withdrawal and reduced flexibility, reminiscent of the symptoms seen in AN. An estimated 15 - 20% of all individuals with AN also have autism. People with AN and concurrent autism run an increased risk of a worse prognosis, as they have more difficulty absorbing treatment, which in itself increases the risk of the condition becoming chronic. Today, there is no scientific evidence for how people with AN and concurrent autism should be treated. In a pilot study, the investigators will validate a so-called autism care location in our inpatient ward, at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. The care location will be adapted for patients with AN and concurrent autism (AN+autism). In order to investigate the effect of a tailored care location for patients with AN + autism, the evaluation will include weight development and changes in nutritional intake, eating disorder and anxiety symptoms. The overall aim is to improve treatment for this specific AN subgroup, that otherwise has a worse prognosis regarding AN recovery.
Interventions
OTHERAnorexia nervosa plus autism
In the inpatient care the treatment model takes into account the patient's perception disorders, meaning e.g. an adapted mealtime situation where the patient can eat separately or wear hearing protection if necessary. The patients have an adapted meal plan regarding difficulties with specific textures or foods. To meet their need for continuity, they have the same contact persons throughout the entire period of care. The healthcare staff receive training in working with the specific subgroup and have regular exchanges of experience regarding the patient group, 15 minutes every or every two weeks.
Sponsors
Göteborg University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Pilot study. Ten consecutive patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) plus autism will be admitted to the autism care location at an inpatient ward for eating disorders. The planned period of care for each patient is 12 weeks. The patient will be assessed (including weight, height, self-report questionnaires and interviews) before admission, at discharge and 6 months later.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 25 years or older * Meeting criteria for both anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder according to the DSM-5 * In need of inpatient care due to anorexia nervosa
Exclusion criteria
* 24 years or younger * Not in need of inpatient care due to anorexia nervosa * Not meeting criteria for both anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder according to the DSM-5
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BMI change between baseline and discharge 12 weeks later | At admission, at discharge 12 weeks later, and 6 months after discharge | Body Mass Index: weight (kilograms)/height (meters)2 |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change of level of anxiety between baseline and discharge 12 weeks later | At admission, at discharge 12 weeks later, and 6 months after discharge | Anxiety assessed using General Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) |
| Change of Quality of life between baseline and discharge 12 weeks later | At admission, at discharge 12 weeks later, and 6 months after discharge | Quality of life (QoL) assessed using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) |
Contacts
Primary ContactElisabet Wentz, PhD
Backup ContactPeter Goldberg
Outcome results
None listed