Exploring Personality Clusters Among Parents of ED Subjects. Relationship With Parents’ Psychopathology, Attachment, and Family Dynamics.

Exploring personality clusters among parents of ED subjects. Relationship with parents’ psychopathology, attachment, and family dynamics.

Compr Psychiatry. 2013 Apr 18;
Amianto F, Daga GA, Bertorello A, Fassino S

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders are some of the most difficult mental disorders to treat and manage. Family interacts with genetic dispositions and other pathogenic factors, and may influence the outburst, development and outcome of EDs. The present study explores with a cluster analysis the personality traits of parents of ED subjects. METHODS: One-hundred-eight mothers and 104 fathers were tested with Temperament Character Inventory (TCI), Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAX), Family Assessment Device (FAD), Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB). The cluster distribution of parents based on personality traits was explored. Parents’ clusters TCI scores were compared as regards personality, psychopathology, attachment and family features. Cross distribution of temperament and character clusters in mothers and fathers, among couples and ED diagnoses of the daughters was explored. RESULTS: Two clusters of mothers and fathers were identified with temperament clustering. Character traits led to two mothers and three fathers clusters. Mothers temperament cluster 1 (MTC1) correspond to a explosive/adventurous profile, MTC2 to a cautious/passive-dependent profile. Fathers temperament cluster 1 (FTC1) was explosive/methodic, FTC2 was independent/methodic. Character clustering distinguished very immature mothers (MCC1) and majority (65%) of character mature mothers with low self-transcendence (MCC2). A third of fathers was severely immature (FCC1), a third impaired as regards relationships (poor cooperativeness and self-transcendence; FCC2), and one third character mature fathers with low self-transcendence (FCC3). Each cluster evidences specific psychopathology and attachment characteristics. FTC1 was more frequently associated with character immaturity. No significant clusters’ cross correlation was found in parental couples. CONCLUSION: Parents’ clusters analyze in depth the univocal picture of prototypical mothers and fathers of EDs. Parents not disturbed as regards personality traits are not exceptions. Since EDs are multifactor disorders family dynamics related to parents’ personality may be very relevant or even marginal in their pathogenesis. Conversely, parenting may be negatively influenced by relatively marginal personality malfunctions of parents. The clustering approach to the complexity of personality-related dynamics of ED families improves the picture of ED parents. Psychoeducational, counseling and psychotherapeutic family interventions should consider the specific underlying personality of parents. HubMed – eating

Higher glycemic load diet is associated with poorer nutrient intake in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Nutr Res. 2013 Apr; 33(4): 259-65
Louie JC, Markovic TP, Ross GP, Foote D, Brand-Miller JC

Changes in the quality and quantity of carbohydrate foods may compromise nutrient intake in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We hypothesized that glycemic index, glycemic load (GL), carbohydrate intake, grains, and cereal product consumption would be associated with nutrient adequacy. Eighty-two women with GDM (61% of Asian background, 34% whites) completed a 3-day food record following their routine group nutrition education session. Nutrient intakes were compared to Nutrient Reference Values (NRV) for Australia and New Zealand. Nutrient intake across energy-adjusted tertiles of glycemic index, GL, carbohydrate intake, and intake of grains and cereal products were assessed. The majority of women (66%-99%) did not meet the NRV for fiber, folate, vitamin D, iodine, and iron, and exceeded NRV for saturated fat and sodium. Higher dietary GL was associated with lower intakes of total, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat; vitamin E; and potassium (all P < .001). Higher grain intake was not significantly associated with intake of any micronutrients. In Australian women with GDM, high dietary GL predicts greater risk of poor nutrition. HubMed – eating

[Migraine and hypothalamus.]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2013 Apr 17;
Géraud G, Donnet A

Migraine is a complex brain disease. The “generator” of the migrainous attacks remains a subject of debate, but the hypothalamus, with its multiple connections with the other parts of the central nervous system and its controls on the pituitary gland and the autonomic nervous system, is a very serious candidate. Many of the premonitory symptoms of migraine attacks find their origin in the hypothalamus. The hormonal changes which occur during feminine genital life and which impact on the life of the migrainous women have their origin in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus exerts control over the balance between the parasympathetic and orthosympathetic systems. Orexine, hormones originating in the hypothalamic, are involved in sleep regulation, thermoregulation and neuroendocrine and nociceptive functions. They could play a crucial role in the origin of the migrainous attack and might explain the influence of sleep, eating habits and excessive weight in the occurrence of attacks. Hypothalamic cerebral activation via H2 15OPET activity, suspected by clinical and experimental arguments as a possible trigger for migraine, has been demonstrated during spontaneous attacks. However, no conclusion can be made however as to whether this activation is the cause or the consequence of the migrainous pain. HubMed – eating

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