title: Drive for activity in patients with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hyperactivity and elevated physical activity are both considered symptom characteristics of anorexia nervosa (AN). It has been suggested that a drive for activity (DFA) may underlie these expressions, yet research into DFA in AN remains scant. This study investigated DFA levels in patients with AN and its relation to AN severity. Furthermore, as physical exercise may be a way to reduce negative affect, the influence of negative affect (anxiety) on the role of DFA in AN was tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and forty female patients with AN completed measures for DFA, eating disorder (ED) pathology, anxiety, and clinical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A strong relation between DFA levels and ED pathology was found, which remained significant even after controlling for negative affect (anxiety).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After much theorizing about DFA in AN this study provides empirical evidence for DFA as a hallmark feature of AN, independent of anxiety levels. Future research should shed light on the relationships between DFA, actual physical activity, and the course of AN.
authors.affiliation: Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld, The Netherlands; Clinical and Health Psychology, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Utrecht Research Group Eating disorders (URGE), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lot
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sternheim
authors.forename: Unna
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Danner
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adan
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Elburg
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D004328:Drive; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anorexia nervosa; anxiety; drive for activity; eating disorders; negative affect