Social functioning and its association with accompanying psychiatric symptoms in adolescents with anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate social functioning and its relation to associated psychiatric symptoms and disorders in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa.

METHODS: Thirty-two adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa aged between 12 and 18 years were compared to a control group of 30 adolescent girls without any psychiatric disorder. The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) was applied to determine comorbid psychiatric disorders in the anorexia nervosa group and to rule out any psychiatric disorder in the control group. Submissive Acts Scale, Shyness Scale and Social Comparison Scale were used to assess social functioning.

RESULTS: Submissive behaviours and negative social comparisons were significantly higher in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and were more associated with the comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms, rather than the severity of anorexia nervosa symptoms.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study would guide us to develop more effective treatment strategies for adolescents with anorexia nervosa who have comorbid psychiatric symptoms. Treatment strategies in this age group should consider social functioning and its relation to accompanying psychiatric symptoms and aim to improve social communication and coping skills.