Objective: The aim of this study was to assess and compare eating disorder feature networks in adult and adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa.
Methods: Patients seeking treatment for anorexia nervosa in inpatient and outpatient settings were consecutively recruited from January 2008 to September 2019. Body mass index was measured, and each patient completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire.
Results: The sample comprised 547 adolescent and 724 adult patients with anorexia nervosa. Network analysis showed that in both adults and adolescents, the most central and highly interconnected nodes in the network were related to shape overvaluation and desiring weight loss. The network comparison test identified similar global strength and network invariance, confirming the similarity of the two network structures.
Discussion: The network structures in adult and adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa are similar, and lend weight to the cognitive behavioral theory that overvaluation of shape and weight is the core feature of anorexia nervosa psychopathology.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; desiring weight loss; eating disorder psychopathology; feeling fat; shape overvaluation.
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.