Self-reported and behavioural impulsivity in anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
To examine how self-reported and behavioural impulsivity are related in anorexia nervosa (AN).


METHODS
Twenty-four females with AN and 25 healthy controls (HC) participant in the study. Self-reported impulsivity was assessed with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). The scale yields three second-order factors: Attentional, motor and non-planning. Behavioural impulsivity was investigated with the continuous performance test (CPT), a computer-based task of sustained attention in which numbers are flashed briefly on screen and participants are required to click the mouse when the same number appears consecutively. The rate of commission and omission errors can be used a measure of behavioural imulsivity.


RESULTS
AN participants self-reported increased attentional [AN: 20.67 (3.64), HC: 13.88 (2.91), P = 0.001] and reduced motor impulsivity [AN: 11.55 (2.28), HC: 14.08 (2.78), P = 0.002]. The rate of omission or commission errors on the CPT did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). BIS-11 and CPT measures did not significantly correlate, but attentional impulsivity was related to negative mood states in AN (depression: r = 0.52, P = 0.010, anxiety: r = 0.55, P = 0.006, stress: r = 0.57, P = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
The discrepancy between self-reported and behavioural impulsivity are discussed in terms of perfectionism in AN. Furthermore, it is suggested that improving negative mood states may resolve this inconsistency in AN.
Andrea Phillipou, Larry Allen Abel, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Andrea
A
Phillipou
Andrea Phillipou, Larry Allen Abel, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Larry Allen
LA
Abel
Andrea Phillipou, Larry Allen Abel, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
David Jonathan
DJ
Castle
Andrea Phillipou, Larry Allen Abel, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Caroline
C
Gurvich
Andrea Phillipou, Larry Allen Abel, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Matthew Edward
ME
Hughes
Andrea Phillipou, Larry Allen Abel, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Susan Lee
SL
Rossell
Anorexia nervosa; Attention; Continuous performance; Eating disorder; Inhibition
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