Adela Fusté

Dimensionality of three versions of the Eating Disorder Inventory in adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVES To analyze the dimensionality of three versions of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) in adolescent girls. METHOD The sample comprised 738 participants. The Spanish adaptation of the EDI-2 was used. The EDI-2 contains the 64 items of EDI and has the same items as EDI-3. The dimensional structures hypothesized by Garner for the three EDI versions were assessed via a series of Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs). RESULTS The CFA did not confirm Garners proposed structure in any of the three versions. Consequently it was decided to perform Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) of the EDI-2 and the EDI-3 to try to identify the underlying structure. The best theoretical and empirical fit was provided by a 7-factor structure. DISCUSSION This article presents a shortened version of the EDI-2 which may prove more suitable for use with adolescent girls in the general population than the original questionnaire. Certain practical suggestions for optimizing the use of the different versions of the EDI are also presented.

Antibody response and some behaviors as differential traits between two inbred strains of mice (C57BL/6 and BALB/C)

The goals of this research were to find out if the antibody response and some behaviors are differential traits for murine strains C57BL/6 and BALB/c and to study the influence of strain and isolation on both behavior and the antibody response. 21 C57BL/6 male mice and 28 BALB/c male mice were used; of those, 11 C57BL/6 and 16 BALB/c were kept isolated, and the remaining mice were housed 2 per cage. The tests were Open-fields 1, 2, and 3 (of varying light and sound stimulation), holeboard, light-darkness test, immunization with rat erythrocytes; in addition, the mice were weighed. The traits that best differentiated both strains (according to discriminant analysis) were weight, IgM primary response, and emotional behavior (ambulation, rearing, and defecation in stimulating open-fields). Social isolation (of adult mice) influenced emotional behavior, but not the antibody response.

Antibody response to rat erythrocytes and some behaviors in two strains of mice after social isolation

The purpose of this research was twofold: (a) To find out if the antibody response and some behaviors are differential traits for mice (murine strains C57BL/6 and BALB/c); and (b) to study the influence of strain and isolation on both behavior and the antibody response. We used 21 C57BL/6 male mice and 28 BALB/c male mice; of these, 11 C57BL/6 and 16 BALB/c were kept isolated. The rest were housed 2 mice to a cage. We used three open-field tests (of varying light and sound stimulation), a holeboard test, and a light-darkness test. All the mice were immunized with rat erythrocytes. In addition, the mice were weighed. The traits that best differentiated both strains were weight, IgM primary response, and emotional behavior (behaviors in stimulating open fields). Social isolation (of adult mice) influenced emotional behavior, but not the antibody response.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and personality in a sample of healthy subjects

Thyroid hormones influence various brain pathologies, including psychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between these hormones and the psychological state in the normal, non-clinical population is poorly understood. We aimed to test whether serum levels of thyroid hormones are associated with personality in the healthy population. Thyrotropin (TSH), free T3 (FT4), total and free T4 (TT4 and FT4) concentrations were measured in the blood of 104 healthy participants (44% men) aged 18-59 (M=35±9). Personality traits were assessed using the revised short versions of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-140) and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). The data were analysed by correlational, regression, extreme groups and graphical techniques, which showed significant correlations between inter-individual variations in serum thyroid hormone levels and specific aspects of personality. In particular, high serum TSH was strongly associated with higher Persistence and Self-Directedness, and negatively correlated with Harm Avoidance on the TCI-140 and Neuroticism on the NEO-FFI, thus representing a more adaptive personality profile. Furthermore, increased FT4 was associated with lower Reward-Dependence, and increased TT4 was associated with lower Cooperativeness, representing a deficit in social attachment. Our data indicate that the relationship between thyroid hormones and personality in the healthy population might be rather more complex than the results obtained in clinical samples suggest.

The Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS): development process using the Delphi method

PurposeOrthorexia nervosa is a currently investigated eating disorder proposed by US physician Steve Bratman, defined as pathological fixation on eating healthy food. This study aimed to develop, by consensus of experts, the basic items for a new questionnaire to evaluate some defining psychological features of orthorexia nervosa in English and Spanish language, the so-called Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS).MethodsThe initial item pool was composed of 105 items divided into six different content areas. To analyse the content of the items, a three-round Delphi study was developed, in which participants had to evaluate the representativeness and clarity of each item. Participants were chosen because of their knowledge on orthorexia and/or eating disorders.Results58 experts, from 17 different countries, participated in the initial round and 30 in the last round. Items were added, rephrased, changed into another content area, modified or eliminated according to the participants’ suggestions, partly due to the group’s response, analysed statistically, and partly due to participants’ recommendations.Conclusions64 items were obtained, with two versions in Spanish and English. The future BOS aims to provide a possible solution to the shortage of valid instruments to evaluate psychological features of orthorexia and to promote research on this field. Further analysis regarding validity and reliability is necessary to prove the BOS’ value on this matter.

Coping styles and vulnerability to eating disorders in adolescent girls, by age

The main goal of the study is to explore the relationship between coping styles and vulnerability to eating disorders in a sample of adolescent girls, according to their age. The sample comprises 1396 girls, aged 13 to 18, who completed the Eating Disorders Inventory-3 (EDI-3) and the Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS). The regression analysis shows that the coping strategy most closely linked to the likelihood of developing an ED in all age groups is Intropunitive Avoidance. The scales of the Intropunitive Avoidance dimension that have the most explanatory power are Tension Reduction and Self-Blame. Girls aged 13 and 17 are identified as the highest risk groups. Physical and social changes are proposed as the hypothetical explanation for the difference between age groups. Emphasis is placed on the need for specific prevention programs for adolescents, particularly those at high risk.

Predictors of tonic immobility during traumatic events

Tonic immobility (TI) is a possible reaction to danger that is fa-cilitated by intense fear, physical restraint and perceived inability to escape. Other variables that could affect TI, such as the type and characteristics of traumatic events and personal characteristics have been little or no studied. The present study evaluated the power of these variables to predict TI in a sample of 273 college students who had experienced at least one traumatic event. Of the sample, 7.7% and 13.2% responded with TI according to the two stricter definitions adopted. Most of the variables were significantly as-sociated with TI in univariate analyses. However, in a multiple regression analysis, only certain features of the events (occurrence of physical/sexual abuse, number of different types of events experienced) and certain reac-tions to them (perception of how traumatic were the events, severe fear re-sponse) were significant predictors of TI. Since these predictors explained only 25% of the variance, the influence of other variables �such as neuroti-cism, negative affectivity and perceived lack of personal control or re-sources to cope with traumatic events� should be investigated