[Childhood abuse in adolescents with anorexia nervosa compared to a psychiatric and healthy control group].

OBJECTIVES

Some studies suggest that both early sexual and early physical abuse are non-specific risk factors for the later development of eating disorders (EDs). However, only little is known about the role of emotional abuse in EDs.

METHODS

The sample included 77 inpatients with Anorexia nervosa (AN-R: n = 50; AN-BP: n = 27), 26 psychiatric control participants and 44 healthy control participants, all of whom were females. The diagnosis of AN and the diagnosis of psychiatric control participants were confirmed by structured interviews (SIAB-EX, Fichter & Quadflieg, 1999; CIDI-DIA-X,Wittchen & Pfister, 1997). Childhood traumatization was assessed by a self-report questionnaire [Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) German Version, Krischer & Sevecke, 2011].

RESULTS

The results indicated there were higher rates of sexual and physical abuse as well as physical and emotional neglect in patients with AN-BP than in patients with AN-R and in healthy control participants, with no significant differences between patients with AN-R and control participants. Furthermore, patients with AN-BP had significantly higher rates on the CTQ subscale "emotional abuse" than patients with AN-R, psychiatric control participants and healthy control participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies should investigate whether emotional abuse is specific to adolescents with AN-BP compared to adolescents with other psychiatric disorders.