Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41035398›Full record

ArticleThe International journal of eating disorders2026

General and Symptom-Specific Illness Duration and Course as Predictors of Symptom Severity in Anorexia Nervosa.

Kira G Venables, Ariana R Bazzi, Abigail Smith, Soo-Eun Lee, Carol B Peterson, Ann F Haynos

Abstract read
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Article in The International journal of eating disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kira G VenablesDepartment of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3713-928X
Ariana R BazziCenter for Deployment Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abigail SmithDepartment of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Richmont Graduate University, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1370-3975
Soo-Eun LeeDepartment of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8929-9640
Carol B PetersonDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9152-4552
Ann F HaynosDepartment of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2548-1731

Funding

Neural Correlates of Reward and Symptom Expression in Anorexia NervosaK23MH112867 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · PI HAYNOS, ANN FRANCES · 2017 to 2021
$878k
Hilda and Preston Davis FoundationKlarman Family FoundationNIMH NIH HHS K23 MH112867NIMH NIH HHS K23MH112867University of Minnesota Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIllness duration has been examined as a predictor of anorexia nervosa (AN) outcomes to mixed results, yet is frequently used to make treatment and prognosis decisions. More specific metrics, such as prior illness course (e.g., continuous vs. intermittent symptoms) and symptom-specific duration or course, may more effectively predict concurrent and longitudinal outcomes.

methodAdults with acute or weight-restored AN (N = 75) completed a measure assessing duration and course (e.g., continuous, intermittent) of their eating disorder in general and of specific symptoms (low weight, restrictive eating, weight/shape preoccupation). Hierarchical linear regressions predicted the severity of each symptom (BMI, restrictive eating, shape concern, weight concern) at baseline and one-year follow-up from covariates (Step 1), general illness duration and course (Step 2), and symptom-specific duration and course (Step 3).

resultsCross-sectionally, symptom-specific predictors improved model fit for all outcomes (ps = < 0.001-0.043). A more continuous course of restrictive eating was associated with more frequent baseline restrictive eating (p = 0.002) and longer duration (p = 0.009) and a more continuous course (p < 0.001) of weight/shape preoccupation was associated with higher baseline shape concern. General illness duration and course did not predict symptom severity after accounting for symptom-specific factors. Longitudinally, no measure of illness or symptom duration or course predicted follow-up symptom severity.

conclusionsCourses of specific symptoms may be more meaningful symptom severity markers in AN than general illness duration or course, particularly for restriction and shape concern. Findings highlight the clinical utility of assessing symptom-specific chronicity and of interrupting eating disorder symptoms in treatment, given the impact of continuous symptom expression.

Indexed as

Anorexia NervosaAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMalePrognosisSeverity of Illness IndexTime FactorsYoung Adultanorexia nervosaassessmenteating disordersillness courseillness duration

Identifiers

PMID41035398
PMCPMC12773668

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.