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Anorexia nervosa: changes in sexuality during weight restoration
J F Morgan1, J H Lacey, F Reid
1Eating Disorder Unit, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom. jmorgan@sghms.ac.uk
Psychosomatic Medicine
|August 12, 1999
Summary
Sexual drive increases during weight restoration in patients with anorexia nervosa. This change is linked to psychological factors and should be considered during treatment and recovery.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroendocrinology
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by distorted body image and restricted eating, leading to significant weight loss.
- Altered sexual function and drive are frequently reported in individuals with AN, but the trajectory of these changes during recovery is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the changes in sexual drive during the process of weight restoration in women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
- To explore the relationship between sexual drive, body mass index (BMI), and psychological factors such as anxiety and depression during inpatient treatment.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving eleven women with anorexia nervosa undergoing inpatient weight restoration.
- Data collection included the Sexual Daydreaming Questionnaire (SDQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at five time points, with BMI monitoring.
- Statistical analyses included repeated-measures ANOVA, regression, and t tests to assess associations between variables.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between body mass index (BMI) and sexual drive (p < .001).
- Increased sexual drive at mean matched population weight (MMPW) was associated with histories of purging, self-cutting, and childhood sexual abuse.
- Transient depression was also associated with weight gain, and anxiety disorder "caseness" persisted throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- Weight restoration in anorexia nervosa is accompanied by an increase in sexual drive, supporting psychological and physiological explanations for altered sexuality.
- Transient depression is a common comorbidity during weight gain in this population.
- Monitoring and addressing changes in sexuality are crucial components of both successful recovery and the management of treatment failure in anorexia nervosa.
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