In first presentation adolescent anorexia nervosa, do cognitive markers of underweight status change with weight gain following a refeeding intervention?
OBJECTIVE
To determine the nature and severity of cognitive functioning impairment in adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN) when underweight and following weight gain.


METHODS
In 37 first admission adolescent (12-18 years) AN patients and 45 matched controls, general cognitive functions were assessed at baseline and follow-up using the IntegNeuro-computerized battery. AN participants were tested between days 3 and 10 of their admission when underweight, with retesting conducted after weight restoration.


RESULTS
When underweight, AN participants performed more poorly than controls on sensori-motor speed tasks and exhibited a susceptibility to interference, but had superior working memory. Once the weight is restored, individuals significantly improved relative to their own performance. Relative to controls, they were significantly faster on attention and executive function tasks, exhibited superior verbal fluency, working memory, and a significantly superior ability to inhibit well-learnt responses.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive impairments in adolescent AN appear to normalize with refeeding and weight gain.
The Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Millennium Institute and University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ainslieh@psych.usyd.edu.au
Ainslie
A
Hatch
Sloane
S
Madden
Michael R
MR
Kohn
Simon
S
Clarke
Stephen
S
Touyz
Evian
E
Gordon
Leanne M
LM
Williams
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004435:Eating; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D015430:Weight Gain