title: A clinical profile of compulsive exercise in adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the current study was to contribute to the development of a clinical profile of compulsive exercise in adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), by examining associations between compulsive exercise and eating and general psychopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 60 female adolescent inpatients with AN completed a self-report measure of compulsive exercise and a series of standardized self-report questionnaires assessing eating and general psychopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of compulsive exercise were associated with increased levels of eating disorder psychopathology and anxiety. Specifically, the avoidance aspect (negatively reinforced) of compulsive exercise was associated with elevated scores on measures of eating disorder, anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsiveness psychopathology, as well as lower self-esteem scores. The mood improvement value (positively reinforced) of compulsive exercise, however, did not reflect such trends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compulsive exercise driven by avoidance of negative affect is associated with more severe psychological features in adolescent inpatients with AN. The current findings emphasize the need for research and clinical efforts in the development of treatments addressing avoidance of negative affect and compulsive exercise in adolescents with AN.
authors: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Noetel
authors: Eating Disorder Service at The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia ; Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Miskovic-Wheatley
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, USA ; Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, USA.
authors: Ross D
authors: RD
authors: Crosby
authors: Centre for Health Research, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
authors: Phillipa
authors: P
authors: Hay
authors: Eating Disorder Service at The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia ; Discipline of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Sloane
authors: S
authors: Madden
authors: School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Touyz
keywords: Adolescent; Anorexia; Eating disorders; Exercise; Psychopathology