The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version
Abstract Background People with anorexia nervosa (AN) show a peculiar impairment of insight regarding their condition, often manifesting a denial of extreme emaciation and sometimes hiding or underreporting socially undesirable abnormal eating patterns. Sometimes the intensity of the beliefs held by...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Eating and Weight Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-023-01620-w |
| _version_ | 1827770833196548096 |
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| author | Arianna Sciarrillo Francesco Bevione Marta Lepora Federica Toppino Maria Carla Lacidogna Nadia Delsedime Matteo Panero Matteo Martini Giovanni Abbate Daga Antonio Preti |
| author_facet | Arianna Sciarrillo Francesco Bevione Marta Lepora Federica Toppino Maria Carla Lacidogna Nadia Delsedime Matteo Panero Matteo Martini Giovanni Abbate Daga Antonio Preti |
| author_sort | Arianna Sciarrillo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background People with anorexia nervosa (AN) show a peculiar impairment of insight regarding their condition, often manifesting a denial of extreme emaciation and sometimes hiding or underreporting socially undesirable abnormal eating patterns. Sometimes the intensity of the beliefs held by patients with AN reach a delusional intensity. Objectives In this study, the Italian version of the Nepean Belief Scale was applied to a sample of patients diagnosed with AN to investigate the intensity of their beliefs and convictions and its clinical correlates. Methods The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) was translated and adapted to Italian and applied to a sample of patients diagnosed with AN based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). Results The Italian version of the 5-item NBS showed excellent reliability. Convergent validity was proved by negative association with levels of insight measured with the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight in Eating Disorders. Beliefs of delusional intensity were reported by 10% of participants. Those with a greater intensity of beliefs, either overvalued or delusional ideas, were more likely to report poorer general cognitive performances on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. No association was observed between NBS score and age, body mass index, symptoms of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, or levels of depression. Fear of weight gain and control seeking were the most often reported themes at the NBS. Conclusions The Italian version of the NBS is a reasonably reliable, valid, and usable tool for the multidimensional assessment of insight in AN. Level of evidence Level III, Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:45:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d22719a142f1404e8d5e091f00ef236e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1590-1262 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:45:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Eating and Weight Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-d22719a142f1404e8d5e091f00ef236e2023-11-05T12:05:24ZengSpringerEating and Weight Disorders1590-12622023-10-012811910.1007/s40519-023-01620-wThe Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian versionArianna Sciarrillo0Francesco Bevione1Marta Lepora2Federica Toppino3Maria Carla Lacidogna4Nadia Delsedime5Matteo Panero6Matteo Martini7Giovanni Abbate Daga8Antonio Preti9Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinEating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of TurinAbstract Background People with anorexia nervosa (AN) show a peculiar impairment of insight regarding their condition, often manifesting a denial of extreme emaciation and sometimes hiding or underreporting socially undesirable abnormal eating patterns. Sometimes the intensity of the beliefs held by patients with AN reach a delusional intensity. Objectives In this study, the Italian version of the Nepean Belief Scale was applied to a sample of patients diagnosed with AN to investigate the intensity of their beliefs and convictions and its clinical correlates. Methods The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) was translated and adapted to Italian and applied to a sample of patients diagnosed with AN based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5). Results The Italian version of the 5-item NBS showed excellent reliability. Convergent validity was proved by negative association with levels of insight measured with the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight in Eating Disorders. Beliefs of delusional intensity were reported by 10% of participants. Those with a greater intensity of beliefs, either overvalued or delusional ideas, were more likely to report poorer general cognitive performances on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. No association was observed between NBS score and age, body mass index, symptoms of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, or levels of depression. Fear of weight gain and control seeking were the most often reported themes at the NBS. Conclusions The Italian version of the NBS is a reasonably reliable, valid, and usable tool for the multidimensional assessment of insight in AN. Level of evidence Level III, Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-023-01620-wInsightAwareness of illnessAnorexia nervosa/diagnosisBeliefsConvictionPsychometrics/methods |
| spellingShingle | Arianna Sciarrillo Francesco Bevione Marta Lepora Federica Toppino Maria Carla Lacidogna Nadia Delsedime Matteo Panero Matteo Martini Giovanni Abbate Daga Antonio Preti The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version Eating and Weight Disorders Insight Awareness of illness Anorexia nervosa/diagnosis Beliefs Conviction Psychometrics/methods |
| title | The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version |
| title_full | The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version |
| title_fullStr | The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version |
| title_short | The Nepean Belief Scale (NBS) as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa: psychometric properties of the Italian version |
| title_sort | nepean belief scale nbs as a tool to investigate the intensity of beliefs in anorexia nervosa psychometric properties of the italian version |
| topic | Insight Awareness of illness Anorexia nervosa/diagnosis Beliefs Conviction Psychometrics/methods |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-023-01620-w |
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