Kaitlin Holmes

Major: Psychology

Minor: Criminal Justice

Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2012

Research Supervisor: Scott Crow M.D., Psychiatry, University of Minnesota

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Todd Wilkinson, Psychology, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Research Location: University of Minnesota, Summer 2011

Research Topic: A Descriptive Study of Atypical Anorexia Nervosa in DSM-V

Abstract: Objective: Based on current diagnostic systems, there are several ways to fall short of a full syndromal eating disorder diagnosis. This study is a descriptive analysis of individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa in a sample of outpatients at a private eating disorders treatment program in the Twin Cities. Method: 80 individuals with full syndromal anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa were assessed at entry into an outpatient program. Using demographic information (sex, age, and race), the EDDS, the EDI-3, the Beck Depression Inventory, comparative statistics were used to understand the percentage of eating disorder outpatients that meet atypical anorexia nervosa criteria and differentiate them from those who meet full criteria for anorexia nervosa. Results: T tests revealed that the only difference between anorexia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa was body mass index, chi square analyses showed no significant differences for race and gender. Discussion: The findings of this study are of public health importance because there is little consensus in the literature on an empirical definition for atypical anorexia nervosa and it is not settled as to where the weight cutpoint should be, or if it even makes sense to have a cut point.