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Suzanne F Abraham

Publications and source records attributed to Suzanne F Abraham.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Quality of life: eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of measurements with predictive validity that are specific for quality of life (QOL) in patients with eating disorders. METHOD: A total of 306 eating disorder patients treated as inpatients completed the Quality of Life for Eating Disorders (QOL ED): 109 at both admission and discharge from hospital, 65 at both admission and after 12 months. Patients also completed well-validated measures of eating disorders, psychological dysfunction and general physical and mental QOL. QOL ED consists of 20 self-report questions that provide scores for the domains of behaviour, eating disorder feelings, psychological feelings, effects on daily life, effects on acute medical status and body weight, and a global score. RESULTS: QOL ED domain scores correlated appropriately with previously validated well-known measures of eating disorders, psychological dysfunction, general QOL and behaviour and body weight (p < 0.001). The QOL ED shows high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). All scores changed significantly and appropriately during inpatient hospital treatment and between admission and 12 months after discharge from hospital (p < 0.001). The scores differed for anorexia nervosa, bulimia, eating disorder not specified (EDNOS) and no diagnosis. All no diagnosis (recovered) domain and global scores were significantly different from all diagnoses scores (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This quick, simple instrument fulfils all potential uses for QOL assessments in the clinical and research settings associated with eating disorders, including outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Predictors of functional and exercise amenorrhoea among eating and exercise disordered patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of amenorrhoea self-reported by patients who are suffering or recovering from eating or exercise disorders. METHODS: Menstrual status, eating and exercise behaviours and feelings, and weight history of 268 female patients, 16-40 years old and not taking oral contraception or hormone replacement, were assessed on admission to hospital or 12 months later. RESULTS: Most (134) had secondary amenorrhoea, 39 had oligomenorrhoea and 95 regular spontaneous menses. Amenorrhoea occurs in women with all types of eating disorder diagnoses including EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise classified). The predictors of secondary amenorrhoea were: lower current BMI [odds ratio (OR) 0.59, confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.68); a greater amount of body weight lost (OR 1.19, CI 1.06-1.33); exercising for mood, to burn up energy or for body image reasons (OR 1.50, CI 1.14-1.97); and younger age (OR 0.93, CI 0.87-1.00). Eating disorder patients with an exercise disorder were significantly more likely to report trying to reduce their food intake, to feel compelled to exercise and to have amenorrhoea/ oligomenorrhoea than eating disorder patients without an exercise disorder. CONCLUSION: The greater the self-report behaviours and feelings associated with energy debt, the more likely menstruation is to be disturbed. Energy balance needs to be assessed in all amenorrhoeic patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Usefulness of amenorrhoea in the diagnoses of eating disorder patients.

We investigated the usefulness of amenorrhoea as a criterion in eating disorder diagnoses. Menstrual history, eating disordered behavior and weight history of 251 female eating disorder inpatients were assessed on admission to hospital. Menstrual status of 88 (35%) could not be assessed (80 taking hormonal contraception, 5 (< 16 years) had never menstruated, one hysterectomized, 2 postmenopausal). Of the remaining 163; 90 had secondary amenorrhoea (no periods for > 3 months), 19 irregular periods and 54 regular cycles. Some patients with recent changes in energy status, who warranted inpatient treatment for their eating disorder did not develop amenorrhoea until later during their admission. Menstrual disturbance is not limited to anorexia nervosa, 24% of patients with an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and 15% of bulimic patients had amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea on admission. The best predictors (82% cases, 83% noncases, R2 = 0.41) of secondary amenorrhoea at admission, were; current BMI < or = 18, and having rules for exercising. Menstrual status of women with an eating disorder diagnosis cannot always be assessed, is mostly measuring low body weight and exercise and is not useful in planning or initiating treatment. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of amenorrhoea as a criterion for any eating disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Dieting, body weight, body image and self-esteem in young women: doctors' dilemmas.

Many young women feel that body image and exercise are important for their self-esteem, want to lose weight, are afraid they might gain weight, and feel fat. Interventions that improve self-esteem, encourage communication and help adolescents to be supportive of each other may prevent some of these women from developing eating disorders. If an eating disorder is suspected, it may be useful for physicians to ask about fear of loss of control over the body, eating, weight and shape; and preoccupation with food, eating, nutrition, body weight and shape, as these issues may differentiate those at greater risk.

Adolescent↗