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Updated: May 28, 2026
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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Sleep Quality Profiles in Youth with Eating Disorders: A Latent Profile Analysis
Elvira Anna Carbone1, Matteo Aloi2, Renato de Filippis1,3
1Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Brain Sciences
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Sleep disturbances in youth with eating disorders (EDs) present distinct profiles, not uniform impairment. Night eating significantly predicts more severe sleep issues, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are common in youth with eating disorders (EDs).
- These sleep issues are linked to worse mental health and treatment outcomes.
- Sleep problems in ED populations are diverse and may indicate different clinical patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct sleep quality profiles in adolescents and young adults with EDs.
- To investigate the clinical characteristics associated with each sleep profile.
Main Methods:
- 288 outpatients with EDs completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and psychopathology measures.
- Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify sleep profiles based on PSQI scores.
- Multinomial logistic regression examined clinical correlates of profile membership.
Main Results:
- Four sleep profiles emerged: less impaired, medication-using, global poor, and sleep-initiation-difficulty sleepers.
- Profiles varied significantly in ED severity, mood symptoms, emotion regulation, and sleep-related eating behaviors.
- Night eating was a key factor, increasing the likelihood of belonging to more impaired sleep profiles.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disturbances in youth with EDs are heterogeneous, with distinct, clinically relevant profiles.
- A person-centered approach is valuable for understanding and addressing sleep issues in this population.
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