Case series of family‐based treatment for restrictive‐type eating disorders and comorbid autism: What can we learn? A brief report
Open accessAbstract
Objective: Autism is more prevalent among persons with Restrictive type eating disorders (R‐ED) compared to the general population and is associated with poorer outcomes across treatment modalities. Knowledge is sparse with regard to whether poorer outcomes are also associated with Family‐based treatment (FBT), which is recommended as the first choice of treatment for young persons (YPs) with R‐ED. This case series compares outcome between groups with and without autism in a large consecutive series of YPs with R‐ED treated with FBT. Method: In an earlier described consecutive series of 157 YPs with R‐ED treated with FBT, we compared the outcomes of the subgroup with ( N = 16) and without ( N = 141) comorbid autism. Primary ICD‐10 diagnoses were typical (50.0) or atypical anorexia nervosa (AN) (F50.1), the latter implying a condition as typical AN but with a failure to meet one of the diagnostic criteria. Autism diagnoses were clinically assigned. The outcomes were receiving intensified care, weight normalisation and overall successful treatment. Results: 10.2% ( N = 16) of the sample had autism. 2.5% ( N = 4) had autism diagnosed prior to the Eating Disorder (ED), and an additional 7.7% ( N = 12) were diagnosed with autism during ED treatment. Significantly more YPs with autism (50%, N = 8) compared with YPs without autism (16%, N = 23) received intensified care (day programme or inpatient treatment) during their treatment. No significant difference between groups regarding neither weight normalisation nor successful ending of the treatment were found. Conclusion: This small sample of YPs with autism suggests that comparable proportions of YPs with and without autism may restore normal weight and end the treatment successfully within 12 months. However, more YPs with comorbid autism needed more intensive treatment, indicating that outpatient treatment delivery may not be sufficient to bring about desired change in this patient group. Findings need confirmation in a larger sample with a systematic screening for autism.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Restrictive eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, become increasingly common in autistic girls at adolescence.
“restrictive eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa) become increasingly common in autistic girls at this age”
From Innovations of the ICD-11 in the Field of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Psychological Approach (2022) · cites this paper as Bentz et al., 2022
The Introduction and Aims (page unavailable) says restrictive-type eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, most often begin in adolescence and suggests autism may be a vulnerability factor. The case-series table includes autistic adolescent girls, but the paper does not establish that these disorders become increasingly common specifically in autistic girls as they reach adolescence; its sample consists of young people already referred for eating-disorder treatment. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredFor women, a restrictive eating disorder can drive engagement with mental health services, with underlying ASD and/or associated social trauma only being identified later.
“For women, a restrictive eating disorder can drive engagement with mental health services, with their underlying ASD and/or associated social trauma only being identified later (Bentz et al., 2022).”
From Innovations of the ICD-11 in the Field of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Psychological Approach (2022) · cites this paper as Bentz et al., 2022
The Results report that 12 of 16 young people with autism were diagnosed during treatment for a restrictive eating disorder; Methods describes their referral for psychiatric eating-disorder treatment. The sample was predominantly female, but the paper does not establish this sequence specifically for adult women or address associated social trauma. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
The REDCap consortium: building an international community of software platform partners
Harris, P. A., Taylor, R., Minor, B. L., Elliott, V., Fernandez, M., O'Neal, L., McLeod, L., Delacqua, G., Delacqua, F., Kirby, J., et al. (2019) · Journal of Biomedical Informatics · doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2019.103208 · Cited by 24,013 · see citing works
Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Postorino, V., Kerns, C. M., Vivanti, G., Bradshaw, J., Siracusano, M., & Mazzone, L. (2017) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-017-0846-y · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Brede, J., Babb, C., Jones, C., Elliott, M., Zanker, C., Tchanturia, K., Serpell, L., Fox, J., & Mandy, W. (2020) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04479-3 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 19
- Adamson, J., Kinnaird, E., Glennon, D., Oakley, M., & Tchanturia, K. (2020). Carers’ views on autism and eating disorders comorbidity: Qualitative study. BJPsych Open, 6(3). 10.1192/bjo.2020.36 PMC7331083 32419683 · DOI
- Bentz, M., Pedersen, S. H., & Moslet, U. (2021). An evaluation of family‐based treatment for restrictive‐type eating disorders, delivered as standard care in a public mental health service. Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(1), 141. 10.1186/s40337-021-00498-2 34715920 PMC8555240 · DOI
- Carter Leno, V., Micali, N., Bryant‐Waugh, R., & Herle, M. (2022). Associations between childhood autistic traits and adolescent eating disorder behaviours are partially mediated by fussy eating. European Eating Disorders Review. 10.1002/erv.2902 PMC9542277 35388530 · DOI
- Harris, P. A., Taylor, R., Thielke, R., Payne, J., Gonzalez, N., & Conde, J. G. (2009). Research electronic data capture (REDCap)—A metadata‐driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 42(2), 377– 381. 10.1016/j.jbi.2008.08.010 18929686 PMC2700030 · DOI · Paper page
- Huke, V., Turk, J., Saeidi, S., Kent, A., & Morgan, J. F. (2013). Autism spectrum disorders in eating disorder populations: A systematic review. European Eating Disorders Review, 21(5), 345– 351. 10.1002/erv.2244 23900859 · DOI
- Kinnaird, E., Oakley, M., Lawrence, V., Shergill, S., & Tchanturia, K. (2021). A peer interview qualitative study exploring support for carers of people with comorbid autism and eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(1), 42. 10.1186/s40337-021-00397-6 33789761 PMC8010292 · DOI
- Lock, J. (2018). Family therapy for eating disorders in youth: Current confusions, advances, and new directions. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 31(6), 431– 435. 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000451 30063479 · DOI
- Lock, J., & Le Grange, D. (2015). Treatment manual for anorexia nervosa. In A family‐based approach (2nd ed.). Guilford Publications.
- Loomes, R., & Bryant‐Waugh, R. (2021). Widening the reach of family‐based interventions for anorexia nervosa: Autism‐adaptations for children and adolescents. Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(1), 1– 11. 10.1186/s40337-021-00511-8 34863292 PMC8645124 · DOI
- Nielsen, S., Anckarsäter, H., Gillberg, I. C., Gillberg, C., Råstam, M., & Wentz, E. (2015). Effects of autism spectrum disorders on outcome in teenage‐onset anorexia nervosa evaluated by the Morgan‐Russell outcome assessment schedule: A controlled community‐based study. Molecular Autism, 6(1), 14. 10.1186/s13229-015-0013-4 25774282 PMC4359566 · DOI
- Nielsen, S., Dobrescu, S. R., Dinkler, L., Gillberg, C., Gillberg, C., Råstam, M., & Wentz, E. (2022). Effects of autism on 30‐year outcome of anorexia nervosa. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10(1), 4. 10.1186/s40337-021-00518-1 35000620 PMC8744255 · DOI
- Rhind, C., Bonfioli, E., Hibbs, R., Goddard, E., Macdonald, P., Gowers, S., Schmidt, U., Tchanturia, K., Micali, N., & Treasure, J. (2014). An examination of autism spectrum traits in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and their parents. Molecular Autism, 5(1), 56. 10.1186/2040-2392-5-56 25553237 PMC4280745 · DOI
- Steinhausen, H.‐C., & Jensen, C. M. (2015). Time trends in lifetime incidence rates of first‐time diagnosed anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa across 16 years in a Danish nationwide psychiatric registry study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(7), 845– 850. 10.1002/eat.22402 25809026 · DOI
- Tchanturia, K., Adamson, J., Leppanen, J., & Westwood, H. (2019). Characteristics of autism spectrum disorder in anorexia nervosa: A naturalistic study in an inpatient treatment programme. Autism, 23(1), 123– 130. 10.1177/1362361317722431 29105513 · DOI
- Tchanturia, K., Smith, K., Glennon, D., & Burhouse, A. (2020). Towards an improved understanding of the anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum comorbidity: PEACE pathway implementation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00640 PMC7358367 32733294 · DOI
- Tinggaard, J., Aksglaede, L., Sørensen, K., Mouritsen, A., Wohlfahrt‐Veje, C., Hagen, C. P., Mieritz, M. G., Jørgensen, N., Wolthers, O. D., Heuck, C., Petersen, J. H., Main, K. M., & Juul, A. (2014). The 2014 Danish references from birth to 20 years for height, weight and body mass index. Acta Paediatrica, 103(2), 214– 224. 10.1111/apa.12468 24127859 · DOI
- Vasa, R. A., Carroll, L. M., Nozzolillo, A. A., Mahajan, R., Mazurek, M. O., Bennett, A. E., Wink, L. K., & Bernal, M. P. (2014). A systematic review of treatments for anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(12), 3215– 3229. 10.1007/s10803-014-2184-9 25070468 · DOI · Paper page
- Westwood, H., & Tchanturia, K. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder in anorexia nervosa: An updated literature review. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19(7). 10.1007/s11920-017-0791-9 PMC5443871 28540593 · DOI
- Wilson, G. T., & Shafran, R. (2005). Eating disorders guidelines from NICE. The Lancet, 365(9453), 79– 81. 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17669-1 15639682 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Innovations of the ICD-11 in the Field of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Psychological Approach
Greaves-Lord, K., Skuse, D., & Mandy, W. (2022) · Clinical Psychology in Europe · doi:10.32872/cpe.10005 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bentz, M., Pedersen, S. H., & Moslet, U.
- Affiliations
- Mental Health Services (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Bentz, Mette
- Venue
- European Eating Disorders Review
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-07-08
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 641-647
- ISSN
- 1072-4133 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0968
- PMC
- PMC9545333
- OpenAlex
- W4284988654
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2
- FWCI
- 3.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- European Eating Disorders Review (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- anorexia nervosa, autism spectrum disorder, autism comorbidity, family-based treatment, youth, treatment outcomes, intensive care, autism screening
- MeSH terms
- Anorexia Nervosa, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Autistic Disorder, Hospitalization, Humans, Comorbidity
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
