Exercise "addiction" in anorexia nervosa: model development and pilot data.
BACKGROUND
Excessive exercise has long been observed to be a problematic behavior of many patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, many questions remain as to the exact role exercise plays in this disorder. In particular, it has been suggested that exercise holds "addictive" properties in persons with AN, but that remains to be demonstrated.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to adapt and apply a scale used in addictions research to determine whether symptoms of "dependence" to exercise could be measured in a group of women with AN.


RESULTS
Forty-eight percent of individuals assessed endorsed symptoms consistent with exercise dependence in the previous month. The number of criteria met for exercise dependence was directly correlated with a clinical measure of anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Results support further investigation into addictive properties for exercise in individuals with AN and its relationship to anxiety
Klein
Diane A
DA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. dk2127@columbia.edu
Bennett
Andrew S
AS
Schebendach
Janet
J
Foltin
Richard W
RW
Devlin
Michael J
MJ
Walsh
B Timothy
BT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics