In the last decades, multiple studies have suggested evidences of disturbances within the glutamate system in depressed patients. The first clinical study using ketamine in depression treatment was conduct fifteen years ago. Since then several studies tried to understand the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of ketamine, as well as discover new drugs with better pharmacodynamic profiles.

Review the literature on the role of glutamate system in depression and novel approaches with glutamate N–methyl–D–aspartate receptor antagonists in depression.

Search and review of scientific literature on PubMed database with the keywords.

“major depressive disorder”, “depression”, “ketamine”, “glutamate”, “NMDA”, “neuroplasticity”.

Abnormalities of the glutamate clearance at synaptic space and astrocytic dysfunction associated with glutamate metabolism have been associated with depressive symptomatology. In depressed patients, reduced levels of glutamate have been described by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in multiple cortical areas, amygdala and hippocampus, supportting the hypothesis of glutamate system involvement in the neurobiology of depression. Indeed, in the last 15 years, multiple clinical studies using ketamine provided some evidence that glutamate N–methyl–D–aspartate receptor antagonism could be an approach for refractory forms of depression. However, regardless all of the evidences, no drug targeting specifically the glutamate system has been approved for depression treatment.

The glutaminergic system plays a role in the pathophysiology of depression, why it's a possible therapeutic target. So, it's of utmost importance that future studies keep the focus in this area, looking for new drugs active in this system.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The last years it is became clear that disturbances in molecular processes in pathological conditions can be connected with conformational changes in protein structure.

Investigation of blood albumin conformation in patients with melancholic depression.

There were investigated 19 patients with melancholic depression (12 women and 7 men) and 25 health volunteers. Patient's state according to ICD-10 criteria was defined as a depressive episode in the frame of bipolar depressive disorder (type 2) (F32) and in the structure of recurrent depressive disorder (F33). Subnanosecond laser time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (SLTRFS) (subnanosecond diapason) with K-35 fluorescent probe was used for the investigation of albumin conformation.

There were revealed 3 binding sites in albumin molecule with fluorescent decay time of 1, 3 and 9 nanoseconds (A1, A3 and A9 sites, respectively) in healthy volunteers using SLTRFS approach. There were found significant differences between albumin binding sites of volunteers and patients with melancholic depression, respectively, А1–117 ± 7 и 142 ± 10; А3–358 ± 14 и 420 ± 26; А9–371 ± 16 и 433 ± 29.

These findings point out that melancholic depression is followed by conformational changes of albumin molecule that can affect its functional properties. We can hypothesized that albumin binding properties can serve as a biomarker of the efficacy of psychopharmacotherapy.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Adjustment disorder (AD) is a condition that includes both emotional or/and behavioral symptoms and occurs when individual is unable to cope with stress. It is a common diagnosis but few studies have been done due to controversial diagnosis related to their diagnostic criteria definition. It is often difficult to establish differential diagnosis with condition such as depressive and anxiety disorders or even normal reaction to stressful situations. There are limited tools to evaluate such condition and its definition is focused or based on lack of severity.

Study objective target is to analyse the differences between two groups, a first group with AD and another one with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (with different sociodemographic, clinical and triggering individual factors such as vulnerability or copying management).

We try to have a better comprehension and management of depressive conditions.

Two groups that belongs to Mental Health Community Team are compared. The first one with a diagnosis of AD, and another group with the diagnosis of MD. They have been diagnosed through a structured clinical interview and standard questionnaires to evaluate personality copying management. Other pathologies (such as psychotic, organic,…) were excluded through a structured clinical interview. We analyzed variables considered through variance analysis.

Significant differences between groups were found in some of the variables considered.

This study have important implications regarding evaluation, differential diagnosis and psychotherapeutic approach to patients with AD and MD.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Some temperament characteristics of personality seem to be modulated by oxytocin. Patients suffering from eating disorders (EDs) display aberrant personality traits.

We investigated the relationships between plasma oxytocin levels and personality dimensions of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and compared them to those of healthy controls.

Plasma oxytocin levels were measured in 23 women with AN, 27 women with BN and 19 healthy controls and assessed their personality traits by means of the Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R).

AN patients showed plasma levels of the hormone significantly lower than BN and healthy controls. In healthy women, plasma oxytocin levels resulted significantly correlated negatively with novelty seeking scores and positively with both harm avoidance (HA) scores and the attachment subscale scores of the reward dependence: these correlations explained 82% of the variability in circulating oxytocin. In BN patients, plasma oxytocin resulted negatively correlated with HA, whereas no significant correlations emerged in AN patients.

These findings confirm a dysregulation of oxytocin secretion in AN but not in BN and show, for the first time, that the association of circulating oxytocin to patients’ temperament traits is totally lost in underweight patients with AN and partially lost or even inverted in women with BN. These findings suggest a role of oxytocin in certain deranged behaviours of ED patients, which are influenced by the subjects’ personality traits.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Early life experiences can influence hypotalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation and adult attachment styles. Furthermore, several studies showed that in patients with eating disorders (EDs) there is a prevalence of insecure attachment. However, the relationship between adult attachment style, HPA axis functioning and onset of EDs is largely unknown.

In order to evaluate possible associations between attachment styles and HPA axis functioning in EDs, we investigated Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) in ED patients with different attachment styles.

Twenty adult patients with EDs were classified in three groups, according to the Experience in Close Relationship questionnaire (6 with secure attachment, 6 with anxious attachment and 8 with avoidant attachment). Saliva samples were collected at awakening and 15, 30 and 60 minutes after.

There was a significant difference among the groups in both awakening and post-awakening cortisol concentrations. In particular, compared to secure and avoidant groups, the anxious group exhibited lower cortisol concentrations at awakening and post-awakening with a preservation of the timing of the CAR.

Present findings demonstrate that anxious attachment style is linked to flattened CAR in EDs. This pattern has been associated with other psychiatric disorders. Therefore, attachment style could influence the HPA functioning and it could play, although not specifically, a role in pathophysiology of EDs.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Expressed Emotion (EE) can be described as a measure of the emotional temperature of the family climate and plays a role in disease course and outcome, especially in chronic illnesses. Overweight and obesity are severe problems with serious implications as far as health risks are concerned. The literature suggests having a high EE caregiver correlates with a worse treatment compliance in obese patients.

To measure level of EE, stressful events and anxiety in obese patients and their caregivers; to investigate the possible correlations between treatment compliance and EE.

We recruited 190 obese patients and 125 caregivers. Socio-demographic features were recorded. Assessment included: Level of Expressed Emotion Scale (LEE), one version for patients and one for relatives in order to evaluate 4 dimensions: Intrusiveness, Emotional Response, Attitude toward Disease, Tolerance and Expectation; the Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events; STAI Y1 concerning state anxiety and STAI Y2 concerning trait anxiety; BMI (Body Mass Index) was measured at T0 and after 3,6 and 9 months.

We have found a correlation between gender and trait anxiety, and an inverse correlation between age and trait anxiety both in patients and caregivers. The decrease of BMI during follow-up is statistically significant and this reduction seems to be affected by tolerance and expectation perceived by patients and the emotional response on behalf of caregivers.

Levels of EE should be considered when planning treatment interventions to enhance compliance in obese patients and to support change in their life-style.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The recently published DSM-5 defines Eating Disorders (ED) as “a persistent alteration in the food supply or food-related behavior leading to an alteration in the consumption or absorption of food and cause a significant deterioration in health or psychosocial functioning” and, nevertheless, it does not include obesity as an ED due to the lack of enough evidence to include it. However, everyday more evidence supports that disordered eating could be a significant factor, at least, in development and maintenance of obesity.

Describe the eating behavior of a 180 obese sample.

One hundred and eighty patients with obesity that went to the endocrinology service in order to lose weight are referred to the Psychiatry department to be assessed. To explore the eating behavior it was administered the Bulimic Investigatory Test of Edinburgh, BITE.

A total of 68.7% of patients showed a disordered eating pattern, 71.6% tend to eat a lot when feeling anxious, 63.8% eat rapidly large amounts of food, 72.8% worry about not to have control over how much eat, 40.5% consider that their pattern of eating severely disrupt their life, 40.7% eat sensibly in front of others and make up in private, 59.1% cannot stop eating when they want to and 58.3% admit binges of large amounts of food.

Most of our patients showed a pattern of disordered eating, and then our findings support the idea of disordered eating as a significant factor in the development and maintenance of obesity. Therefore, obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach that goes beyond the traditional nutritional guidance.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is prevalent, associated with obesity and elevated psychiatric co-morbidity, and represents a treatment challenge.

A controlled comparison of multi-modal, stepped-care versus behavioral-weight-loss (BWL) for BED.

One hundred and ninety-one patients (71% female, 79% white) with BED and co-morbid obesity (mean BMI 39) were randomly assigned to 6 months of BWL (n = 39) or stepped-care (n = 152). Within stepped-care, patients started BWL for one month; treatment-responders continued BWL while non-responders switched to cognitive-behavioral-therapy (CBT) and all stepped-care patients were additionally randomized to anti-obesity medication or placebo (double-blind) for five months. Independent assessments were performed by research-clinicians at baseline, throughout treatment, and post-treatment (90% assessed) with reliably-administered structured interviews.

Intent-to-treat analyses of remission rates (0 binges/month) revealed BWL and stepped-care did not differ significantly overall (74% vs 64%); within stepped-care, remission rates differed (range 40% - 79%) with medication significantly superior to placebo (P < 0.005) and among initial non-responders switched to CBT (P < 0.002). Mixed-models analyses of binge eating frequency revealed significant time effects but BWL and stepped-care did not differ overall; within stepped-care, medication was significantly superior to placebo overall and among initial non-responders switched to CBT. Mixed models revealed significant weight-loss but BWL and stepped-care did not differ overall; within stepped-care, medication was significantly superior to placebo overall and among both initial responders continued on BWL and non-responders switched to CBT.

Overall, BWL and stepped-care treatments produced improvements in binge-eating and weight loss in obese BED patients. Anti-obesity medication enhanced outcomes within a stepped-care model.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is associated with obesity and with elevated rates of co-occurring major depressive disorder (MDD) but the significance of the diagnostic comorbidity is ambiguous—as is the significance of the onset sequence for MDD and BED.

We compared eating-disorder psychopathology and psychiatric comorbidity in three subgroups of BED patients: those in whom onset of BED preceded onset of MDD, those with onset of MDD prior to onset of BED, and those without MDD or any psychiatric comorbidity.

A consecutive series of 731 treatment-seeking patients meeting DSM-IV-TR research criteria for BED were assessed reliably by doctoral-clinicians with semi-structured interviews to evaluate lifetime psychiatric disorders (SCID-I/P) and ED psychopathology (EDE Interview).

Based on SCID-I/P, 191 (26%) patients had onset of BED preceding onset of MDD, 114 (16%) had onset of MDD preceding onset of BED, and 426 (58%) had BED without co-occurring disorders. Three groups did not differ with respect to age, ethnicity, or education, but a greater proportion of the group without MDD was male. Three groups did not differ in body-mass-index or binge-eating frequency, but groups differed significantly with respect to eating-disorder psychopathology, with both MDD groups having significantly higher levels than the group without co-occurring disorders. The group having earlier onset of MDD had elevated rates of anxiety disorders compared to the group having earlier onset of BED.

MDD in combination with BED—with either order of onset—has a meaningful adverse effect on ED psychopathology and overall psychiatric co-morbidity.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Monitoring patient with anorexia nervosa (AN) include clinical, biological and psychological factors. In recent years many researchers criticize the BMI as useful measure for controlling evolution of AN.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is one of the main methods for nutritional status assessment.

The aim of this study was the assessment of the nutrition status in a group of patients with anorexia nervosa in comparison to healthy population (HP).

The study involved 37 participants: 21 patients with AN and 16 healthy volunteers constituting the control group (HP). The patients were divided into two groups according a BMI: I group 14 < BMI < 15,5 (n = 11; age 18.0 ± 4.37) and II group: 15,5 < BMI < 17,5 (n = 10; age 17.82 ± 3.68). The mean age of HP was 17.68 ± 1.57 and BMI 20.56 ± 1.16 kg/m2. BIA was performed by using ImpediMed bioimpedance analysis SFB7 BioImp. The parameters: phase angle (PA), TBW%, ECW, ICW, ECW/ICW were analyzed.

PA was decreased significantly in the I (4.5°±0,6) and II group (4.7°±0,6) of AN patients’ in comparison with HP (5.6°±0,7). TBW was 9% higher in I group and ECW was increased 6% in the both AN groups compared with HP (P < 0.01). Additionally ECW/ICW ratio indicated the higher transfer of water into the extracellular compartment in AN group (P < 0.01).

BIA is accurate tool to indicate the valuable indicators of detecting malnutrition in AN. Further studies are needed to validate the significance of these parameters for the full identification of the nutrition status of AN patients’.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While AN has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of AN on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.

We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998-2011 using the ICD-9 codes for AN. Severity of co-morbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson co-morbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, chi-square test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.

28,150 patients were analyzed. 93.94% were female and 6.06% were male (P < 0.0001). 88.67% were white, 2.93% were black and 8.4% were of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization decreased from 1530/million to 1349.5/million from 1998-2011. Overall mortality was 0.78% and mean cost of hospitalization was 25,829.82$. The in-hospital mortality reduced from 0.95% to 0.44% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 11,956.55$ to 39,831.51$. Total yearly spending on AN related admissions increased from $145.33 million/year to $420.61 million/year.

While mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $145.33 million/year to $420.61 million/year, which leads to an estimated $275.28 million additional burden to the US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing AN related Hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for AN related hospitalization.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While BN has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of BN on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.

We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998-2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of co-morbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson co-morbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, chi-square test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.

19,441 patients were analyzed. 94.13% were female and 5.87% male (P < 0.0001). 85.72% were white, 4.55% black and 9.73% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization decreased from 1136.99/million to 802.47/million from 1998-2011. Overall mortality was 0.20% and mean cost of hospitalization was 15,496.82$. The in-hospital mortality reduced from 0.23% to 0.15% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 8,194.53$ to 22,547.86$. Total spending on BN related admissions have increased from $73.96 million/year to $139.93 million/year over the last decade.

While mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $73.96 million/year to $139.93 million/year, which leads to an estimated $65.97 million/year additional burden to US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing BN related Hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for BN related hospitalization.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The night eating syndrome (NES) is a categorized in the diagnostic and statistic manual (DSM-5) as an “Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder” and it is characterized by a reduced feeding during the day, evening hyperphagia accompagned by frequent nocturnal awakenings associated with conscious episodes of compulsive ingestion of food and abnormal circadian rhythms of food and other neuroendocrine factors. Frequently it is associated with obesity and depressed mood.

The purpose of this review is to investigate the state of art concerning the psychopharmacological treatment of NES.

A Medline enquiry of published articles from 2005 to October 2015 was performed using the following keywords: “NES, pharmacological treatment, SSRI, antidepressants, antipsychotic, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, duloxetine, venlafaxine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, topiramate”. Reviews, single case studies and RCT were also analyzed.

Only few studies met the selection criteria. A recent 8-week double-blind placebo controlled study, in 34 patients with NES, has confirmed the efficacy of sertraline. Sertraline was associated with significantly greater improvement than placebo in overall symptomatology.

SSRIs should be considered the drug of choice for the treatment of NES not only because of evidence in the literature but also since they display the best pharmacological profiles with fewer adverse events. More evidence of efficacy is shown for some SSRIs such us paroxetine, fluvoxamine and especially sertraline. Topiramate should be reserved for cases resistant to treatment with SSRIs.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

A role for the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been suggested in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and childhood trauma experiences have been detected frequently in patients with AN and BN. Since trauma exposure in the childhood may persistently affect HPA axis functioning, we explored HPA axis activity in AN and BN patients with and without childhood trauma history.

We aimed to examine possible associations between childhood traumatic experiences and HPA axis functioning, as assessed by the cortisol awakening response (CAR), in adult patients with AN or BN as compared to adult healthy controls.

Saliva samples were collected by 41 patients with symptomatic AN, 32 with symptomatic BN and 45 healthy controls at wakening and after 15, 30 and 60 min. They filled in the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which assesses five specific types of childhood trauma.

As compared to the control group, the no-maltreated AN patient group exhibited an enhanced CAR whereas the no-maltreated BN patient group showed a similar CAR. On the contrary, both AN and BN patients with a positive history of childhood maltreatment exhibited statistically significant blunted CAR as compared to no-maltreated patients. Moreover, in maltreated ED patients the CAR tended to decrease when the number of trauma types increased.

Present findings confirm a dysregulation of the HPA axis activity in symptomatic patients with AN and BN and suggest a dose-dependent effect of childhood adverse experiences on the CAR of adult ED patients.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) often report a history of early traumatization. Although a great attention has been paid to sexual and physical trauma, less is known about emotional one, especially neglect.

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional trauma–occurring under 18 years of age–in ED patients vs. healthy controls, focusing on emotional abuse and neglect.

We consecutively recruited 57 DSM-V ED outpatients (91.2% females; age range = 18–42 years) at the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic of our University Hospital and 90 healthy controls (78.9% females; age range = 20–39 years). Among ED patients, 43.9% had restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN), 29.8% binge/purging AN, 26.3% bulimia nervosa. Individuals completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC). We used Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test for comparisons.

ED patients scored significantly higher than controls on all EDI-2 subscales (P-values < 0.05). On the TEC, emotional trauma was more frequent than sexual/physical ones in both ED patients and controls. Emotional trauma, and to a lesser extent physical one, were significantly more frequent in ED patients than controls. Distinguishing between emotional abuse and neglect, the latter had a higher prevalence than the former in both groups. Additionally, ED patients reported significantly more neglect, but not emotional abuse, than controls.

Our findings show a high prevalence of emotional trauma in EDs, mainly neglect, i.e., a lack of care and attention potentially contributing to EDs. Thus, it is crucial to investigate emotional neglect in ED patients.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

A high proportion of individuals with eating disorders (EDs) report childhood abuse and neglect. The prevalence of traumatic events in ED patients has been extensively investigated; less is known about their self-perceived–and reported–severity. Objectives/Aims: We aimed to assess in ED patients vs. healthy controls the severity, i.e., duration, perpetrator, and subjective impact, of sexual, physical, and emotional traumas suffered from 0 to 18 years, paying particular attention to emotional neglect.

Fifty-seven consecutive DSM-V ED patients (91.2% females; age range: 18–42 years) were recruited at the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic of our University Hospital. Ninety controls (78.9% females; age range: 20–39 years) were also recruited. Among ED patients, 43.9% had restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN), 29.8% binge/purging AN, 26.3% bulimia nervosa. Individuals completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC).

The severity of all traumatic events, according to the TEC total score, was significantly higher in ED patients than controls (P < 0.001). Moreover, ED patients showed significantly higher scores with regard to emotional neglect (P < 0.001) and emotional abuse (P < 0.001). The same can be said for physical traumas (P < 0.01) and physical abuse (P < 0.01), although with a lower significance, and for sexual abuse (P < 0.05), with an even lower significance. No difference in the severity of sexual harassment was found.

All types of traumas, especially neglect, can occur in ED patients and controls, however they are reported as more severe by ED patients.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Body dissatisfaction is one of the core psychopathological components in Eating Disorders (EDs) and it tends to persist over time regardless treatment interventions. Perfectionism is considered as a mediator and moderator between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.

To study the influence of Perfectionism in EDs outcome.

To analyze changes in body dissatisfaction at one year follow-up in patients with eating disorders and the effect of perfectionism over these changes.

Participants were 151 patients with eating disorders. DSM-IVTR diagnoses were as follows: 44 (29.1%) Anorexia Nervosa (AN), 55 (36.4%) Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and 52 (34.4%) Eating Disorders no Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). Perfectionism was assessed with the Edinburg Investigatory Test (EDI-2). The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) was also distributed. One year after the beginning of their treatment, patients were reassessed.

Patients with BN showed significantly higher scores on BSQ than those with AN. There was a significant improvement in BSQ after one year of treatment regardless the diagnostic (repeated measures ANOVA: F 8.4, P<.01). Perfectionism was a co-variable that influenced in those changes.

The results confirm the interaction between perfectionism and body dissatisfaction in the treatment outcome of EDs. It has been described an interplay between Perfectionism, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours, being Perfectionism a moderator factor. The results highlight the need of dealing not only with the core symptoms of EDs, but also with the moderator factors such as Perfectionism to enhance the outcome.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Perfectionism is considered a risk factor and is very close related to Eating Disorders (EDs). It estimates heritability of 29-42%. However, it has also been related to psychosocial factors such as the insecure attachment style.

To study the relationship of perfectionism with personality dimensions, its likelihood of improvement and its treatment.

To analyze if Perfectionism is associated with dimensions of Temperament or dimensions of Character and therefore more psychosocial.

Participants were 151 female outpatients who consecutively started treatment at the Eating Disorders Unit (Ciudad Real University General Hospital). Personality was assessed by using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Perfectionism was assessed by using the Edinburg Investigatory Test (EDI-2) subscale (t0). One year later, patients were re-assessed with the EDI-2 (t1).

The scores on Perfectionism significantly improved from t0 to t1, (repeated measures ANOVA, F = 6.6, P < 0.01). At baseline, Perfectionism was related to any of the Temperament dimensions, but the Character variable Purposefulness (SD2) (β = .25 95% CI .17, 98), 2.7% of variance). Responsibility (SD1) and Self-Aceptance (SD4) were inversely associated with Perfectionism. At t1, Responsibility still was a protective factor for Perfectionism, regardless the effect of Perfectionism at t0.

Perfectionism is also related to psychosocial and developmental factors. People with an internal locus of control tend to take responsibility for their own actions and are resourceful in solving problems. Thus, Self-directedness, mainly Responsibility for their own actions, is a protective factor for Perfectionism in EDs.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Eating disorders are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The Internet is a popular medium for individuals with eating disorders to discuss and reinforce their affliction. However, the available literature on Internet usage and eating disorders is scarce, especially in the area of social media and smartphone application (“app”) usage.

To look at the Internet and smartphone app usage patterns of participants who presented with an eating disorder in Singapore, and whether it corresponded to severity of illness.

Individuals who presented to the Eating Disorders clinic at the Singapore General Hospital from 13th June 2013 to 20th December 2013 completed a self-reported questionnaire on Internet and app usage. They also completed the EDE-Q, EAT-26 and CIA 3.0.

Fifty-five participants completed the study. A total of 41.8% had anorexia nervosa, 34.5% had bulimia nervosa, and 9.1% were ED-NOS. 41.8% felt that apps helped to perpetuate their illness, while 32.7% felt that apps were helpful for recovery. Overall, any smartphone application usage was associated with younger age and greater eating disorder psychopathology and psychosocial impairment. While 30.9% had encountered eating disorder-related content on Facebook, only 12.75 visited Facebook groups related to eating disorders. For YouTube, “Cooking and Food” and “Beauty and Fashion” videos were among the top 3 types of videos that participants watched.

Internet and smartphone app usage is significant, and they are used to prolong or worsen eating disorder behavior in those with greater severity of illness. It is necessary to include interventions in this aspect as part of treatment.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.