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Network Analysis as an Alternative Approach to Conceptualizing Eating Disorders: Implications for Research and Treatment

  • Eating Disorders (S Wonderlich and J M Lavender, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Network analysis (NA) is an emerging methodology that allows for the characterization of maintaining symptoms and pathways among symptoms of mental disorders. The current paper provides background on NA and discusses the relevance of the network approach for the conceptualization of eating disorders (ED).

Recent Findings

We review the burgeoning literature conceptualizing ED from a network approach. Overall, these papers find that fear of weight gain and overvaluation of weight and shape are core symptoms in networks of ED pathology. We integrate literature on new advances in network methodology (e.g., within-person NA) and the clinical relevance of these approaches for the ED field (e.g., personalized ED treatment). We also provide several considerations (e.g., replicability, sample size, and node (item) selection) for researchers who are interested in using network science and recommend several emerging “best practices” for NA.

Summary

Finally, we highlight novel applications of NA, specifically the ability to identify within-person maintaining symptoms, and the potential treatment implications for ED that network methods may hold. Overall, NA is a new methodology that holds significant promise for new treatment development in the ED field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Life Sciences Building, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Cheri A. Levinson, Irina A. Vanzhula & Leigh C. Brosof

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA

    Kelsie Forbush

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  1. Cheri A. Levinson
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  2. Irina A. Vanzhula
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  3. Leigh C. Brosof
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  4. Kelsie Forbush
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Correspondence to Cheri A. Levinson.

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Cheri A. Levinson, Irina A. Vanzhula, Leigh C. Brosof, and Kelsie Forbush declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Eating Disorders

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Levinson, C.A., Vanzhula, I.A., Brosof, L.C. et al. Network Analysis as an Alternative Approach to Conceptualizing Eating Disorders: Implications for Research and Treatment. Curr Psychiatry Rep 20, 67 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-018-0930-y

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