title: Neuropsychological impairments in anorexia nervosa: a spanish sample pilot study.
abstract: This work was aimed at obtaining a profile of neuropsychological impairments in young Spanish participants with anorexia nervosa (AN) to demonstrate that right-hemisphere and frontal capacity impairments are present not only in the acute phase but also after weight recovery in a Spanish sample compared with a healthy control group. Twelve patients with AN in the acute phase (body mass index [BMI] < 17) were compared both to 16 healthy control subjects and 12 weight-recovered AN participants (BMI ≥ 17) matched by age, IQ, and educational level by utilizing a wide neuropsychological battery. Differences were found between AN groups only for long-term verbal memory, which worsens as BMI increases. Among participants with AN as a group, results showed differences in speed of information processing, working memory, visual memory, and inhibition, unrelated to attentional capabilities. We cannot support the hypothesis of a specific right cerebral dysfunction in patients with AN. A general cognitive dysfunction, primarily in information processing, working memory, visual and verbal memory, as well as frontal impairments such as impulsivity and poor behavioral control, appeared unrelated to BMI. We support previous works affirming that neuropsychological impairments in AN are not a consequence of the illness but a risk factor for it to develop.
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Neuropsychology , Hospital Clínico Universitario , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oltra-Cucarella
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espert
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacas
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guillén
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001288:Attention; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescent; cognitive; health promotion