Table 2.
Cross-sectional study sample: demographic and clinical characteristics
| N | acAN-T1 | recAN | HC | F | p | Post hoc tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 47/35/58 | 15.8 ± 2.4 | 22.0 ± 3.0 | 18.6 ± 4.0 | 34.85 | < 0.001 |
acAN < recAN acAN < HC recAN > HC |
| IQ | 42/35/57 | 110.3 ± 13.7 | 109.3 ± 10.0 | 111.5 ± 9.6 | 0.44 | 0.646 | – |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 47/35/58 | 14.8 ± 1.4 | 20.9 ± 1.9 | 21.0 ± 2.7 | 133.04 | < 0.001 |
acAN < recAN acAN < HC |
| BMI-SDS | 47/35/58 | − 3.2 ± 1.9 | − 0.5 ± 0.6 | − 0.1 ± 0.8 | 84.31 | < 0.001 |
acAN < recAN acAN < HC |
| Minimal lifetime BMI (kg/m2) | 47/35/57 | 14.3 ± 1.5 | 14.3 ± 1.8 | 19.9 ± 2.3 | 135.59 | < 0.001 |
acAN < HC recAN < HC |
| EDI-2 (total score) | 44/34/58 | 195.8 ± 48.8 | 164.0 ± 44.0 | 138.4 ± 26.8 | 26.35 | < 0.001 |
acAN > recAN acAN > HC recAN > HC |
| BDI-II (total score) | 47/35/58 | 18.8 ± 11.2 | 8.4 ± 8.0 | 4.8 ± 5.4 | 37.42 | < 0.001 |
acAN > recAN acAN > HC |
| SCL-90-R (global severity index) | 47/35/58 | 0.79 ± 0.65 | 0.44 ± 0.39 | 0.32 ± 0.40 | 12.16 | < 0.001 |
acAN > recAN acAN > HC |
| Leptin (µg/l) | 47/35/58 | 2.1 ± 3.3 | 9.7 ± 5.8 | 12.1 ± 9.1 | 29.16 | < 0.001 |
acAN < recAN acAN < HC |
| Physical activity | 45/35/57 | 2.4 ± 1.5 | 1.5 ± 1.0 | 1.7 ± 0.9 | 8.42 | < 0.001 |
acAN > recAN acAN > HC |
Mean values ± standard deviation for each variable are shown separately for each sample. Group differences were tested using ANOVA and post-hoc Scheffé
acAN-T1 acute anorexia nervosa participants at timepoint 1 (admission), BDI-II Beck Depression Inventory, BMI body mass index, BMI-SDS body mass index standard deviation score, EDI-2 Eating Disorder Inventory-2, HC healthy control participants, recAN long-term recovered anorexia nervosa participants, SCL-90-R Symptom Checklist-90-Revised
In the acAN group, the mean age of illness onset was 13.5 ± 1.9 years and the mean duration of illness in the acAN group was 17.9 ± 25.0 months. In the acAN group, 42 (89.4%) were of the restrictive subtype and 5 (10.6%) were of the binge/purge subtype. The mean duration since weight normalization in the recAN group was 50.3 ± 34.1 months. In the recAN group, 27 (77.1%) used to be of the restrictive AN subtype and 8 (22.9%) used to be of the binge/purge AN subtype. Of the acAN participants at T1, 5/47 had psychiatric comorbidities: 3/47 had a depressive disorder, 1/47 reported selective mutism, and 1/47 had a major depressive disorder, a generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia, an obsessive–compulsive disorder, and a combined personality disorder. Of the recAN participants, 8/35 had psychiatric comorbidities: 7/35 had a depressive disorder, and 1/35 had an obsessive–compulsive disorder. None of the acAN-T1, recAN, or HC participants were on psychoactive medication