Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Minors With Anorexia Nervosa in Remission

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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With this investigation, researchers wil look for a link between the appearance of anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorders in minors. Previous studies made clear already that patients with anorexia nervosa show elevated characteristics of autism spectrum disorder, when being meassured in adults and in patients in the acute fase of their anorexia nervosa. The purpose of this invenstigation is to see if their is also an elevated incidence of characteristics of autism spectrum disorder in minors with anorexia nervosa in remission.

Detailed Description
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34 patients who are still minors and were previously treated in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department (PAika) of the University Hospital in Brussels, will be contacted to ask if they would volunteer in this investigation. If the minors and their parents give their permission, they will be asked to fill in multiple questionnaires, measuring the current symptoms of anorexia nervosa, characteristics of autism spectrum disorder and global functioning of the minors. The questionnaires will be send and returned by post.

Official Title
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Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Minors With Anorexia Nervosa in Remission

Conditions
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Anorexia Nervosa, Autism Spectrum Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Questionnaires


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients speaking Dutch Previously treated in UZ Brussel for anorexia nervosa Informed consent signed by children and parent(s) Exclusion Criteria: Patients and/or parents don't speak Dutch Adults No informed consent obtained

Ages Eligible for Study
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Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Diagnostic Test: Questionnaires|Filling in questionnaires of general functioning and symptomes of anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorders will demanded to children and their parents. The children all have a history of anorexia nervosa.|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder | Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder will be measured by questionnaires, filled in by the minors (by the Autism-spectrum Quotient) and their parents (by the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 and the Social Communication Questionnaire). | The measurment will be done once during the period of October 2019 to March 2020. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Global functioning | Global functioning will be measured by questionnaires, filled in by the minors (by the Youth Self Report) and their parents (by the Child Behavior Checklist). | The measurment will be done once during the period of October 2019 to March 2020 | 
| Symptoms of anorexia nervosa | Symptoms of anorexia nervosa will be measured by questionnaires, filled in by the minors (by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and the Child Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire) and their parents (by the Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale). | The measurment will be done once during the period of October 2019 to March 2020 |