Familial predispositions among children and adolescents with an eating disorder: a retrospective cross-sectional study of prevalence, age of onset and symptom severity

Familial predispositions among children and adolescents with an eating disorder

Rasmussen, Emma Torp

4. term

Psychology, Master

2025

2025-05-30

42

Research shows that eating disorders often run in families. This study examined how common a family history of eating disorders is among young patients and whether the number or closeness of affected relatives is linked to an earlier start of illness or more severe symptoms. The team reviewed past clinical records from 282 children and adolescents assessed for an eating disorder at a specialized unit at Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark (a retrospective, cross-sectional study). First-degree relatives means parents or siblings; second-degree relatives include, for example, grandparents, aunts, and uncles; third-degree relatives include more distant relatives such as cousins. Symptom severity was summarized by the global EDE score (Eating Disorder Examination), a standard clinical measure where higher scores reflect more severe symptoms. Eighty-four of the 282 patients had a family history of an eating disorder. Of these 84, 79 were girls and 5 were boys. Sixty-one had at least one familial predisposition, and 23 had two or more. Fifty-two had an affected first-degree relative, 23 had affected second-degree relatives, and 30 had affected third-degree relatives. Overall, family history was not significantly associated with age of onset, the global EDE score, or how long symptoms lasted. There was, however, a trend suggesting that having two or more affected relatives was linked to higher global EDE scores, which may be clinically relevant. These findings point to a high frequency of family history among young patients and suggest that when several relatives are affected, symptoms may be more severe, underscoring the value of early detection and prevention in children and adolescents with eating disorders.

Forskning viser, at spiseforstyrrelser ofte forekommer i familier. Dette studie undersøgte, hvor udbredt familiehistorik for spiseforstyrrelser er blandt unge patienter, og om antallet eller nærheden af ramte slægtninge hænger sammen med tidligere sygdomsdebut eller mere alvorlige symptomer. Forskerne gennemgik tidligere journaler for 282 børn og unge, der var blevet udredt for en spiseforstyrrelse i en specialiseret enhed på Aalborg Universitetshospital, Danmark (et retrospektivt tværsnitsstudie). Førstegradsslægtninge betyder forældre eller søskende; andengradsslægtninge omfatter for eksempel bedsteforældre samt mostre/fastere og onkler; tredjegradsslægtninge kan være mere fjerne slægtninge som fætre og kusiner. Symptomernes alvor blev opsummeret med den samlede EDE-score (Eating Disorder Examination), et standard klinisk mål, hvor højere score afspejler mere alvorlige symptomer. Fireogfirs ud af de 282 patienter havde familiehistorik for en spiseforstyrrelse. Af disse 84 var 79 piger og 5 drenge. Enogtres havde mindst én familiær disposition, og 23 havde to eller flere. Tooghalvtreds havde en ramt førstegradsslægtning, 23 havde ramte andengradsslægtninge, og 30 havde ramte tredjegradsslægtninge. Overordnet var familiehistorik ikke signifikant forbundet med debutalder, den samlede EDE-score eller hvor længe symptomerne varede. Der var dog en tendens til, at to eller flere familiære dispositioner hang sammen med højere EDE-score, hvilket kan have klinisk betydning. Resultaterne peger på en høj forekomst af familiehistorik blandt unge patienter og antyder, at når flere slægtninge er ramt, kan symptomerne være mere alvorlige, hvilket understreger vigtigheden af tidlig opsporing og forebyggelse hos børn og unge med spiseforstyrrelser.

[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]

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