title: Personality-based subtypes of anorexia nervosa: examining validity and utility using baseline clinical variables and ecological momentary assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to empirically derive and validate clinically relevant personality-based subtypes of anorexia nervosa (AN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (N = 116) with full or subthreshold AN completed baseline measures of personality, clinical variables, and eating disorder (ED) symptoms, followed by two weeks of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). A latent profile analysis was conducted to identify personality subtypes, which were compared on baseline clinical variables and EMA variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best-fitting model supported three subtypes: underregulated, overregulated, and low psychopathology. The underregulated subtype (characterized by high Stimulus Seeking, Self-Harm, and Oppositionality) displayed greater baseline ED symptoms, as well as lower positive affect and greater negative affect, self-discrepancy, and binge eating in the natural environment. The overregulated subtype (characterized by high Compulsivity and low Stimulus Seeking) was more likely to have a lifetime obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis and exhibited greater perfectionism; levels of negative affect, positive affect, and self-discrepancy in this group were intermediate between the other subtypes. The low psychopathology subtype (characterized by normative personality) displayed the lowest levels of baseline ED symptoms, co-occurring disorders, and ED behaviors measured via EMA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support the validity of these personality-based subtypes, suggesting the potential utility of addressing within-diagnosis heterogeneity in the treatment of AN.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, 120 South 8th Street, Fargo, ND 58103, USA. jlavender@nrifargo.com
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lavender
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wonderlich
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.forename: Scott G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.forename: Carol B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Grange
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011600:Psychopharmacology / Q000379:methods*