title: Exercise "addiction" in anorexia nervosa: model development and pilot data.
abstract: 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
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. dk2127@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Diane A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schebendach
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Foltin
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: B Timothy
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: 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