Eating Disorders and Autistic Traits Camouflaging: Insights from the EAT Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Feeding and eating disorders (FEDs) frequently co-occur with other psychiatric conditions.
• Growing evidence links FEDs with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly in females who use camouflaging strategies.
• The role of camouflaging in the association between FEDs and ASD requires further empirical investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of autistic traits (ATs) in individuals diagnosed with FEDs.
• To examine the relationship between ATs and psychological well-being in FEDs patients.
• To investigate the mediating role of camouflaging in the association between ATs and psychological distress.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 131 individuals with FEDs was analyzed.
• Data collection involved medical record review, socio-demographic forms, and self-administered questionnaires.
• Validated instruments assessed FEDs symptoms (EDI-3) and ASD-related features (RAADS-R, AQ, EQ, CAT-Q), including camouflaging (CAT-Q).

Main Results:

• 16% of patients scored above the clinical threshold for ATs, with 53% exceeding the original cut-off.
• 25% of participants exhibited significant camouflaging behaviors.
• ATs correlated with FED symptom severity and general maladjustment, with camouflaging and FED symptomatology acting as parallel mediators.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of individuals with FEDs present with significant ATs.
• Camouflaging appears to contribute to psychological distress in FEDs patients via a pathway parallel to FED symptomatology.
• Assessing ATs and camouflaging is crucial for personalized diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in FEDs.