Neuropsychological characteristics of patients in a hospital-based eating disorder program.
The existence of cognitive deficits associated with eating disorders has been debated for some time. The present study investigated cognitive impairments in a large sample of patients with anorexia nervosa from an inpatient treatment program. Fifty-nine women with anorexia nervosa were given a battery of neuropsychological tests assessing multiple cognitive domains. Over half of the patients had mild cognitive impairments in two or more neuropsychological tasks and approximately one-third failed two or more tasks. Depression level and body mass were not associated with cognitive impairment. Whether effective restoration of weight and resolution of core psychopathology contribute to reversal of cognitive deficits requires further research.
Bayless
John D
JD
Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 42242, USA. john-bayless@uiowa edu
Kanz
Jason E
JE
Moser
David J
DJ
McDowell
Bradley D
BD
Bowers
Wayne A
WA
Andersen
Arnold E
AE
Paulsen
Jane S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data