Anorexia Nervosa Clinical Trial
Official title:
Common Decision Making Deficits in Suicidal Behaviors and Eating Disorders
The role of impulsivity and its contribution to suicidal behavior seems intuitively clear. Empirical results have proved the existence of a relationship between the two yet many questions are left unanswered, especially what differentiates suicide ideators from attempters.. Obsessive thinking patterns are thought processes which share a repetitive behavior domain and are exerted by an inner voice. 3 types of obsessive thinking patterns are self destructive thoughts, ruminations and overvalued ideas. Impulsivity and obsessive thinking patterns are presumed to have a common mechanism of behaviors which are resulted from basal ganglia dysregulation and thus effect inhibition. Novel research in the field of decision making could help to learn more about behavioral patterns associated with self harm behavior and suicide. Eating Disorders involve suicidal and self harm behavior, which both feature impulsivity and obsessive thinking patterns. The investigators study proposes a 3-step theoretical model which asserts there is a connection between impulsivity, obsessive thinking and poor decision making, all effecting self harm behavior. Contemporary research has not been able to fully understand the nature of impulsivity and its effect on self harm behavior, including eating disorders symptoms, nor addressed the impact of obsessive thinking patterns on the latter. 100 female participants with Eating Disorders and suicidal behavior will be recruited for the proposed research. Subjects will be given self-report questionnaires and computerized behavioral tasks. A one way ANOVA of two eating disorder subgroups, impulsive and non impulsive, will be conducted, following a hierarchical multiple regression with self harm behavior being the dependent variable.
Aim of Study impulsivity and its relation to different self harm behaviors, specifically
suicidal attempts, is an ongoing field of study which has already been widely discussed. Yet
to this date, the relationship remains unclear and somewhat confusing. Possible explanations
for this might be due to the fact that impulsivity is an ill-defined concept leading to
numerous definitions used by different studies and the fact that it has a trait and state
aspect to it. Clinical experience and theory leads to the assumption that impulsivity plays
a very important role in suicide. Novel research in the field of decision making could
possibly lead to a breakthrough in improving assessment and prevention of suicide attempts
and learning more of this complex relationship.
The study of obsessive thinking patterns and their contribution to suicide is less
prominent. In spite of the lack of magnitude in research, when looking at underlying
mechanisms it is noticeable that both impulsivity and obsessive thinking share common
factors and are congruent in many ways. Determining more about the nature of different
obsessive thinking patterns such as self destructive thoughts, rumination and over-valued
ideas manifested by an inner voice is crucial from two points of view: on one hand learning
more about the relation between the different patterns, and their mutual and independent
effect on self harm behavior. On the other hand, observing them as complementing factors to
impulsivity which may lead to a better understanding of the latter. Studying the interaction
between trait impulsivity and different obsessive thinking patterns could lead to a better
understanding of the theoretical gap discussed in the literature review between suicidal
ideators and attempters.
Literature has proven that observing behavioral patterns in decision making tasks could
serve as a better predictor to self harm and suicidal behavior, compared to solely relying
on self report. The investigators intention is to try and find correlations between the
personality dimensions of impulsivity and obsessive thinking and specific behavioral
patterns indicating suicidal and self harm behavior. Understanding more on impulsive and
obsessive thinking patterns and their effect on self harm behaviors in "real life"
situations can raise the ecological validity and aid in exporting research conclusions to a
clinical setting.
The investigators research will recruit a population which is known to feature both
impulsivity and obsessive thinking patterns, such as in Eating Disorders, where their
co-existence has been proven empirically yet the nature of the interaction is not fully
understood. Eating disorder individuals are also at higher risk of attempting suicide and
exhibiting self harm behaviors in general compared to a non clinical population, making it a
relevant group to the proposed study.
The investigators propose that impulsive behavior and obsessive thinking patterns have a
negative effect on performance in decision making situations. When there is a tendency to
make bad decisions the risk of executing different forms of self harm rises, including
suicidal behavior and eating disorders.
Method:
Participants The investigators will recruit 100 participants from a sample of female
patients, diagnosed with Eating Disorders and suicidal behavior, admitted to mental health
departments in general and psychiatric hospitals. Diagnosis will be made by the hospital
staff. After receiving approval from the medical staff participants will be interviewed,
handed questionnaires and computerized tasks.
Procedure Research will consist of two parts: at first investigators will conduct a
preliminary research on 20 subjects which is intended to decrease questionnaire bandwidth.
Analysis of items administered and correlations will indicate on unsuitable and congruent
items which will be removed from research. In the second part of the study 100 female
participants will be nominated for research. Participants will be briefed about the research
rationale and procedure and instructed to sign an informed consent (parents of minors will
be briefed and instructed to sign as well) indicating on their willingness to participate.
Following this participants will be administered interviews, self report questionnaires and
computerized tasks by the research team. It will be clarified to participants that
questionnaires are anonymous and there are no wrong or right answers. Participants that are
not able to handle research demands due to their physical condition will be interviewed by
the research team in accordance with the nature of the questionnaire.
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Observational Model: Ecologic or Community, Time Perspective: Retrospective
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