Mental Health Group, Clinical Neurosciences Division, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.
Eat Behav. 2010 Apr;11(2):99-106. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2009.10.005. Epub 2009 Nov 4.
This study assessed the external validity of four statistically distinct clusters identified in a sample of eating disorder patients, derived from eating disorder features, attachment and coping styles. It also compared clusters with DSM-IV diagnoses.
Eating disorder psychopathology, attachment, coping, mood, health status and general functioning were measured in 165 patients.
The 'mild eating disorder group' reported significantly lower levels of functional impairment compared with the 'insecure generalised eating disorder' group, and significantly higher levels of social functioning, vitality and general mental health compared with the 'passive/avoidant restrictors' and 'insecure generalised eating disorder' groups. These latter groups reported significantly higher levels of depression compared with the 'bulimic' and 'mild eating disorder' groups. Compared with DSM-IV diagnoses, clusters were more clearly differentiated on a wide range of features, including mood and health status as well as eating disorder features, attachment and coping.
Findings provide preliminary support for the external validity of the clusters. Future research might extend this work by investigating the clusters in relation to recovery, relapse and treatment response.
本研究评估了从饮食障碍特征、依恋和应对方式中得出的一组饮食障碍患者样本中四个在统计学上明显不同的聚类的外部有效性。它还比较了聚类与 DSM-IV 诊断的关系。
对 165 名患者进行了饮食障碍心理病理学、依恋、应对、情绪、健康状况和一般功能的测量。
“轻度饮食障碍组”报告的功能障碍水平明显低于“一般不安全感饮食障碍组”，社会功能、活力和一般心理健康水平明显高于“被动/回避限制组”和“一般不安全感饮食障碍组”。后两组报告的抑郁水平明显高于“暴食”和“轻度饮食障碍”组。与 DSM-IV 诊断相比，聚类在广泛的特征上，包括情绪和健康状况以及饮食障碍特征、依恋和应对方面，有更明显的区别。
研究结果为聚类的外部有效性提供了初步支持。未来的研究可以通过研究聚类与恢复、复发和治疗反应的关系来扩展这一工作。
