Methodological standardization of data and sample collection in two different settings within a controlled human study on eating disorders in adolescents. The PSYNIGED study

Resumen del trabajo presentado al XXXIII Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición, celebrado en Granada del 19 al 21 de junio de 2024.

[Background and aims] Eating disorders (ED) are serious and complex psychiatric pathologies characterized by the presence of abnormal eating patterns. Recent hypotheses involve the gut microbiota and its metabolites within the multifactorial etiopathogenesis. The PSYNIGED project aims to study the psychological, physiological, neurobiological and microbiome factors involved in EDs onset and maintenance

[Methods] A longitudinal and controlled study including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, other specified feeding or eating disorders and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder will be conducted. Seventynine patients and 79 healthy children and adolescents will be recruited at the Children University Hospital Niño Jesus and eligible educational centers, respectively. The multidisciplinary approach will include the assessment of clinical status, early life exposures, psychometric tests, dietary pattern and other lifestyle factors, neuroendocrine and inflammatory biomarkers and the composition and function of the gut microbiota.

[Results] Planning and designing study procedures prior to the empirical phase involved: 1) elaboration of questionnaire administration protocols for different age groups (range 7 to 17.9 y.), including parents/tutors as informants, when necessary, and different settings (clinical and educational). 2) Integration of the sociodemographic, medical, lifestyle and developmental history questionnaires within the existing ED unit protocols for the assessment of new patients. 4) Finding eligible educational centers and 5) elaboration of sample and data management protocols.

[Conclusion] Valid data acquisition methods in accommodated working sessions within each setting have been planned. Work flow charts for the hospital and educational centers have been developed.

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