European Psychiatry - Volume 41 - April 2017

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25th European Congress of Psychiatry / European Psychiatry 41S (2017) S521–S582 S553
significant association between anorexia nervosa, diabetes mel-
litus, autoimmune thyroid disease and Crohn’s disease The
findings of significantly elevated autoantibodies (anti -MSH, anti
ACTH) and cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IFN- , TNF- ) support this rela-
tionship.
Objectives To illustrate with a clinical case the connection
between eating disorders and Crohn’s disease.
Methods Fourteen years-old boy with moderate depression syn-
drome after his grandfather’s decease. Since overweight diagnosis
by his pediatrician, he begins to restrict food intake with an impor-
tant weight loss (19 kg in 9months) and over exercising. Blood test
reveals microcytic and hypochromic anaemia, rest of the exami-
nation shows no other disorder. Psychometric assessment EDI-3
suggests Anorexia Nervosa restricting type.
Results Two months after clinical stabilization, he is hospitalized
due to abdominal pain. Exploration including blood test, serology,
coproculture, sonography and colonoscopy reveals severe Crohn’s
disease.
Conclusions This case is about a patient diagnosed of moder-
ate depressive syndrome, who develops anorexia nervosa and
Crohn’s disease during his followup. It exemplifies the link between
stress, immunity and eating disorders. Recent findings suggest that
immune diseases are involved in onset and maintenance of eating
disorders. More studies are required in order to inference its con-
sequences in evaluation, prognostic, treatment and identification
of subgroups of patients.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
Reference
[1] Raevuori, Anu, et al. The increased risk for autoimmune diseases
in patients with eating disorders. PLoS One 2014;9(8):e104845.
EV0457
Alexithymia, recognition of facial
emotion and inference in patients
with Eating Disorders (ED) or
Substance Abuse Disorders (SAD)
E. Gambaro ∗, M. Lorenzo , C. Gramaglia , L. Girardi ,
C. Delicato , S. Gitana , F. Bert , A. Feggi , P. Zeppegno
1 University of Piemonte Orientale, Department of Traslational
Medicine, Novara, Italy
2 University of Piemonte Orientale, Department of Traslational
Medicine-AOU Maggiore della Carità di Novara, Novara, Italy
3 University of Piemonte Orientale- SC Psichiatria, Department of
Traslational Medicine-AOU Maggiore della Carità di Novara, Novara,
Italy
4 Università degli Study, Department of Public Health and Pediatric
Sciences, Torino, Italy
5 Università degli Studi di Torino, Department of Public Health and
Pediatric Sciences, Torino, Italy
6 SC Psichiatria-AOU Maggiore della Carità di Novara, Department of
Traslational Medicine-AOU Maggiore della Carità di Novara, Novara,
Italy
7 University of Piemonte Orientale- SC Psichiatria, Department of
Translational Medicine, Novara, Italy
∗ Corresponding author.
Alexythimia is a psychological construct characterized by diffi-
culty describing emotions and distinguishing them from somatic
components of the emotional activation. Patients with eating dis-
orders (ED) or substance use disorders (SAD) commonly present
also impairment of recognition of facial expressions and deficits in
social inference. Patients with ED and SAD may present impulsive-
ness, difficulty in emotion-focused coping skills, and search for a
concrete relief from psychological suffering. The purpose of study
is to compare the ED, SAD and healthy controls (HC), in several
variables, including Alexythimia, empathy, and ability to recognize
emotions, social inference. Thirty-two patients with ED, 27 patients
with SAD and 31 HC were recruited between September 2016 and
April 2016 at the psychiatric ward of Novara Hospital, nursing
home of Nebbiuno and the nursing home of Viverone. We admin-
istrated to patients the same battery of tests, composed by Toronto
Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), Facial Emotion Identification Test
(FEIT), the awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT), temperament
and Character Inventory (TCI), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI),
Symptoms Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The two clinical groups showed
differences in TAS, FEIT and TASIT, highlighting Alexythimic tracts,
difficulty in recognizing emotions and deficit of social inference,
compared to HCs. The TCI and SCL-90 have also highlighted the
common psychopathological characteristics and temperamental in
patients with ED and SAD. Alexythimia is particularly represented
in patients with ED and SAD, and could represent a maintenance
factor, together with deficits in emotions recognition and social
inference. The similarities between ED and TD seem to suggest the
possibility of shared core features.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
EV0458
A family-based intervention of
adolescents with eating disorders: The
role of assertiveness
A.L. Barrios-Hernandez ∗, G. Gonzalez-Cuevas ,
M. Graell-Berna , A. Blanco Fernandez
1 European University of Madrid, Psychology department, Madrid,
Spain
2 Hospital Universitario Ni˜no Jesus, Psiquiatría y Psicología, Madrid,
Spain
∗ Corresponding author.
Introduction One of the key profile features of adolescents with
Eating Disorders (ED) is a difficulty with assertiveness. Indeed, cur-
rent research points to the importance of these patients’ perception
of excessive control exerted by their families. Because these ado-
lescents generally live with their families of origin, family-based
variables may impact the development and evolution of psychoso-
cial risk factors associated with this psychiatric disorder.
Objective To investigate whether adolescents with ED improve
on assertive communication as a result of parental assertiveness
training.
Methods The sample was comprised of 50 female adolescents
with ED receiving group therapy treatment at Ni˜no Jesús hospi-
tal in Madrid. Out of the 77 parents participating in the study, 36
were part of the experimental group and subjected to training in
assertive skills (8-week sessions for about 2 hours). In addition, 41
parents formed the control group (with no assertiveness training).
Before and after this training (or the same amount of time for the
control group), adolescents were administered the psychometric
test known as the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS).
Results A significant increase in RAS scores was found in adoles-
cents whose parents were subjected to the assertiveness training.
Moreover, there was a significant decrease in self-restriction scores
in patients with ED after their parental assertiveness interven-
tion. No significant changes were observed, however, in the control
group.
Conclusions Our results indicate that providing families with
educational tools that aim at developing assertive communication
may boost the level of assertiveness in adolescents and, thereby,
presumably help in the prognosis of ED.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.