ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: First, this study aimed to explore whether set-shifting is inefficient after full recovery of anorexia nervosa (recAN). Second, this study wanted to explore the relation of set-shifting to clinical and personality variables. METHOD: A total of 100 recAN women were compared with 100 healthy women. Set-shifting was assessed with Berg's Card Sorting Test. Expert interviews yielded assessments for the inclusion/exclusion criteria, self-ratings for clinical and personality variables. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the recAN participants achieved fewer categories, showed more perseverations and spent less time for shifting set. Perfectionism is correlated with set-shifting but in converse directions in the two groups. DISCUSSION: Our study supports the findings of inefficiencies in set-shifting after full recovery from AN. Higher perfectionism in the recAN group is associated with better set-shifting ability, whereas higher perfectionism in the healthy control group is related to worse set-shifting ability.
Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/psychology , Set, Psychology , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Executive Function , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/complications , Personality , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study examined central coherence as a possible endophenotype in a large sample of women recovered from anorexia nervosa (rec AN). Recovery was defined by considering physiological, behavioural and psychological variables. METHOD: A total of 100 rec AN women and 100 healthy women completed the Rey Complex Figure Test, a measure for visual-spatial central coherence. The participants were matched 1:1 for age and educational level. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the rec AN group showed better accuracy in the copy condition. There was a trend for a local strategy in the rec AN group compared with a global strategy in the healthy control group. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of rec AN women showed no inefficiencies in global processing but a superior local processing after full recovery from AN.
Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/psychology , Cognition/physiology , Adult , Anorexia Nervosa/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Endophenotypes , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Based on findings of persisting neuropsychological impairments in women recovered from anorexia nervosa (rec AN), this study examined decision-making and planning, for achieving a desired goal, as central executive functions in a large sample of rec AN. The definition of recovery included physiological, behavioral, and psychological variables. METHOD: A total of 100 rec AN women were compared to 100 healthy women, 1:1 matched for age and educational level. Decision-making was assessed with the Iowa Gambling Task and planning with the Tower of London. Expert interviews and self-ratings were used for assessing the inclusion/exclusion criteria and control variables. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, rec AN women were better in decision-making and worse in planning even after considering control variables. DISCUSSION: This study does not support results from other studies showing that rec AN participants perform better in decision-making. Results from this study show that planning is impaired even after full recovery from AN.
