Neuropsychological study of underweight and "weight-recovered" anorexia nervosa compared with bulimia nervosa and normal controls

Peter Bosanac, Simone Kurlender, Lillian Stojanovska, Karen Hallam, Trevor Norman, Caroline McGrath, Graham Burrows, Keith Wesnes, Tamsin Manktelow, James Olver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

82 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To compare executive, memory and visuospatial functioning of DSM-IV anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and normal controls (NC). Method: A comparison of women involving: (i) 16 AN with body mass indices (BMI) ≤ 17.5 kg/m2; (ii) 12 AN with BMI > 18.5 kg/m2 for at least 3 months; (iii) 13 BN; and (iv) 16 NC participants was performed with groups of similar age and intelligence. Groups were assessed with EDE-12, MADRS, HAMA, Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) battery, and Bechara tasks. Results: Significant impairments in CDR Power of Attention were present in underweight AN and BN participants. CDR Morse Tapping was significantly impaired in all clinical groups. The BN and weight-recovered AN groups were significantly impaired on CDR immediate word recall. The BN group alone was significantly impaired on CDR delayed word recall. Conclusion: Attentional impairment is similar in AN and BN. Impaired motor tasks in AN persist after "weight-recovery" and are similar to impairments in BN. BN may be discriminated from AN on word recall.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)613-621
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders
Volume40
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anorexia
  • Bulimia
  • Neuropsychological

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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