title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of set-shifting ability in eating disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to critically appraise and synthesize the literature relating to set-shifting ability in eating disorders. PsycINFO, Medline, and Web of Science databases were searched to December 2005. Hand searching of eating-disorder journals and relevant reference sections was also undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 15 selected studies contained both eating disorder and healthy control groups, and employed at least one of the following six neuropsychological measures of set-shifting ability; Trail Making Test (TMT), Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST), Brixton task, Haptic Illusion, CatBat task, or the set-shifting subset of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). The outcome variable was performance on the set-shifting aspect of the task. Pooled standardized mean differences (effect sizes) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TMT, WCST, CatBat and Haptic tasks had sufficient sample sizes for meta-analysis. These four tasks yielded acceptable pooled standardized effect sizes (0.36; TMT -1.05; Haptic) with moderate variation within studies (as measured by confidence intervals). The Brixton task showed a small pooled mean difference, and displayed more variation between sample results. The effect size for CANTAB set shifting was 0.17.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Problems in set shifting as measured by a variety of neuropsychological tasks are present in people with eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychological Medicine, Eating Disorders Research Unit, Department of Academic Psychiatry, King's College, Guy's Hospital, London, UK. marion.roberts@iop.kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Marion E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tchanturia
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Southgate
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving; D012307:Risk Factors; D012718:Set, Psychology