Neurocognitive functioning in adolescents with eating disorders: a population-based study.
BACKGROUND
Neurocognitive deficits have been identified in eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. However, current data do not allow for firm conclusions regarding the nature or extent of these deficits. The current study aimed to evaluate neurocognitive functioning in a population-based sample of adolescents with and without eating disorders.


METHODS
Participants (N=669) were drawn from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Cognitive testing was conducted using the computerised CogState assessment battery. Eating disorder symptoms were assessed using questions adapted from the Child Eating Disorder Examination and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Adolescents who met full or partial criteria for a DSM-IV eating disorder (n=58) were compared to adolescents with no significant eating pathology (n=592).


RESULTS
The eating disorder sample showed impaired performance on measures of executive functioning, including global processing and set shifting, but performed better than control participants on measures of visual attention and vigilance.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to evaluate neurocognitive functioning in a population-based sample of adolescents with eating disorders. Support is provided for weak central coherence and set-shifting difficulties early in the course of eating disorders. Research is needed to determine if these deficits precede and predict eating disorder onset.
a Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research , University of Western Australia , Subiaco , Western Australia.
Karina L
KL
Allen
Susan M
SM
Byrne
Hilary
H
Hii
Anke
A
van Eekelen
Eugen
E
Mattes
Jonathan K
JK
Foster
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012718:Set, Psychology