System Maintenance Notice

Please note that maintenance work is scheduled between 4 AM and 5 AM - CET. During this time, you may experience reduced performance. Thanks for your patience.

Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 42194152 DOI: 10.3390/children13050626

Listening to the Body: Interoceptive Awareness and Eating Disorder Vulnerability in Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Children (Basel) 13(5)

Authors: Anna Riva, Gabriele Arienti, Simona Di Guardo, Eleonora Brasola, Giovanna Zuin, Laura Spini, Naire Sansotta, Andrea Eugenio Cavanna, Renata Nacinovich

Affiliations

  • Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy.
  • Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy.
  • School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy.
  • Department of Paediatric Hepatology Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, Italy.
  • Department of Neuropsychiatry, National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham B15 2FG, UK.
  • School of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
  • School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
  • Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are relapsing-remitting gastrointestinal disorders often emerging in adolescence and frequently associated with psychiatric co-morbidities, including eating disorders (EDs). Deficiency in interoception-awareness of internal bodily sensations-is a transdiagnostic feature in EDs, with emerging evidence suggesting its relevance also in IBDs. This study aimed to assess interoceptive abilities in adolescents with IBDs compared to healthy adolescents. Methods: A total of 76 patients with IBDs and 90 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All participants completed a comprehensive psychometric assessment, including measures of interoceptive sensibility (MAIA-2) and eating-related symptomatology (EDI-3). Results: Up to one in six (15.8%) patients with IBDs were found to be at high risk of developing EDs (EDI-3 Eating Disorder Risk Composite scale >70th percentile). Mean MAIA-2 scores were largely comparable, with the exception of the MAIA-2 Trusting subscale, which assesses whether the experience of one's body is rated as safe and trustworthy. Specifically, patients with IBDs at high risk of developing EDs reported lower scores than both healthy controls and patients with IBDs at low risk of developing EDs, with a statistically significant difference emerging in the comparison with the latter group (p = 0.044). Conclusions: Adolescents with IBDs who report an elevated risk of developing eating disorders have a psychological profile characterised by increased disordered eating symptomatology, accompanied by selective impairment in interoceptive trust, as evidenced by reduced trust in internal bodily signal. These findings highlight the clinical relevance of thorough clinical assessment and early psychological intervention in this vulnerable population.

MeSH

Trust, Feeding And Eating Disorders, Eating, Interoception, Adolescent, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Gastrointestinal Diseases