Purpose: Cardiovascular complications associated with anorexia nervosa (AN) are well recognized. Whether a wide array of studies has investigated autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning at rest in people with AN, few is yet known on their reactivity ability during stress conditions. The aim of the current study is testing ANS reactivity to a stressful task activating attachment system among adolescents with AN. Methods: Heart rate (HR) and its variability, as derived by high-frequency-heart rate variability (HF-HRV), were continuously assessed while 13 AN patients and 12 healthy controls (HCs) responded to a set of attachment-related drawings (Adult Attachment Projective, AAP). Results: Findings showed that patients with AN displayed a stronger parasympathetic activity, as indicated by generally a lower heart rate (HR) during the entire task and a higher HF-HRV for drawings eliciting dyadic interactions compared to HCs. Conclusion: The study findings suggest a novel understanding of cardiovascular functioning in AN. Level of evidence: Level V, descriptive study.

Autonomic response to the adult attachment projective in anorexia nervosa / Lonigro, A.; Pallini, S.; Zanna, V.; Marech, L.; Rosa, M.; Criscuolo, M.; Chianello, I.; Laghi, F.. - In: EATING AND WEIGHT DISORDERS. - ISSN 1124-4909. - (2019), pp. 1-8. [10.1007/s40519-019-00792-8]

Autonomic response to the adult attachment projective in anorexia nervosa

Lonigro A.;Pallini S.;Laghi F.
Ultimo
2019

Abstract

Purpose: Cardiovascular complications associated with anorexia nervosa (AN) are well recognized. Whether a wide array of studies has investigated autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning at rest in people with AN, few is yet known on their reactivity ability during stress conditions. The aim of the current study is testing ANS reactivity to a stressful task activating attachment system among adolescents with AN. Methods: Heart rate (HR) and its variability, as derived by high-frequency-heart rate variability (HF-HRV), were continuously assessed while 13 AN patients and 12 healthy controls (HCs) responded to a set of attachment-related drawings (Adult Attachment Projective, AAP). Results: Findings showed that patients with AN displayed a stronger parasympathetic activity, as indicated by generally a lower heart rate (HR) during the entire task and a higher HF-HRV for drawings eliciting dyadic interactions compared to HCs. Conclusion: The study findings suggest a novel understanding of cardiovascular functioning in AN. Level of evidence: Level V, descriptive study.
2019
Adolescents; Anorexia nervosa; Attachment; Heart rate; Heart rate variability
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Autonomic response to the adult attachment projective in anorexia nervosa / Lonigro, A.; Pallini, S.; Zanna, V.; Marech, L.; Rosa, M.; Criscuolo, M.; Chianello, I.; Laghi, F.. - In: EATING AND WEIGHT DISORDERS. - ISSN 1124-4909. - (2019), pp. 1-8. [10.1007/s40519-019-00792-8]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1344116
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