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. 2020 Nov;28(6):855-863.
doi: 10.1002/erv.2771. Epub 2020 Aug 20.

COVID-19 and eating disorders during confinement: Analysis of factors associated with resilience and aggravation of symptoms

Isabel Baenas  1   2 , Elena Caravaca-Sanz  1 , Roser Granero  2   3 , Isabel Sánchez  1   2 , Nadine Riesco  1   2 , Giulia Testa  1   2 , Cristina Vintró-Alcaraz  1   2 , Janet Treasure  4 , Susana Jiménez-Murcia  1   2   5 , Fernando Fernández-Aranda  1   2   5
Affiliations

COVID-19 and eating disorders during confinement: Analysis of factors associated with resilience and aggravation of symptoms

Isabel Baenas et al. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the level of deterioration in functioning of ED patients during confinement, due to COVID-19, and examine potential contributing factors (coping strategies, anxiety-depressive symptomatology and personality traits).

Methods: A total of 74 ED patients in treatment before the COVID-19 outbreak, contributed to this study. Baseline pre-treatment evaluation included the SCL-90R, TCI-R, EDI-2 and Y-FAS 2.0 questionnaires for general psychopathology, personality and ED severity indexes. ED symptoms, coping strategies, socio-demographic data and COVID-19 concerns were collected by clinicians through a semi-structured telephone survey during lockdown.

Results: A deterioration in ED symptoms and general psychopathology (anxiety and depression), during lockdown, was associated with low self-directedness. Higher ED symptomatology during confinement was associated with less-adaptive coping strategies to deal with lockdown situation leading to an increase in weight.

Conclusions: These specific vulnerability factors to further confinement or stressful situations may help design personalized preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: COVID-19; confinement; eating disorders; mental health; personality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Path‐diagram with the standardized coefficients. Note. Continuous line: significant coefficient. Dash line: non‐significant coefficient
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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