title: Set-shifting abilities, mood and loss of control over eating in binge eating disorder: An experimental study.
abstract: Executive functions play an important role in problem-solving and self-control. Set-shifting is an aspect of executive functioning and represents cognitive flexibility. The inability to control eating in Binge Eating Disorder (BED) may imply deficits in set-shifting which could be exacerbated by negative mood and depressive symptoms. The aim of the study was to test whether there is a causal relationship between set-shifting ability, changes in mood and loss of control over eating in BED. Seventy-five participants diagnosed with BED were randomly assigned to a negative or neutral mood induction. Set-shifting abilities, depressive symptoms, current mood and loss of control over eating were assessed. Having depressive symptoms and poorer set-shifting abilities resulted in a more negative mood after a negative mood induction, whereas this was not observed in the neutral mood induction. Post-hoc analyses revealed that individuals with poorer set-shifting abilities and more changes in negative mood, experienced more feelings of loss of control over eating than individuals whose set-shifting abilities were better and whose mood did not change. The results suggest that both depressive symptoms and deficits in set-shifting abilities may decrease an individual's ability to handle negative affect and increase loss of control over eating in individuals with BED.
authors.affiliation: Center for Eating Disorders Ursula, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.dingemans@centrumeetstoornissen.nl.
authors.forename: Alexandra E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dingemans
authors.affiliation: Center for Eating Disorders Ursula, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hiske
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: PsyQ Division Eating Disorders and Obesity, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Center for Eating Disorders Ursula, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: van Furth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Executive functioning; Experiment; Negative mood; Neurocognitive functioning; Neuropsychology; Set-shifting