The sorting test of the D‐KEFS in current and weight restored anorexia nervosa patients

Abstract

Women with a past or present diagnosis of AN show difficulties in visuo-perceptual EF, whereas verbal EF seem to be preserved. There may be a dissociation between verbal and visuo-perceptual EF that persists after weight restoration.

Verbal Versus Figural Fluency Tests in Currently Ill and Weight Restored Anorexia Nervosa Patients

“…For example, Lindner, Fichter, and Quadflieg () found that weight‐restored AN (WRAN) women performed worse than controls in the Tower of London task, a visual problem solving task with clear inhibition properties (Miyake et al, ). Similar findings were obtained by others (Heled et al, ). Therefore, although visuo‐perceptual ability seems to be more impaired than verbal ability, more research focusing on this comparison is needed (Zakzanis et al, ).…”

“…The results show that on the psychomotor speed aspect, namely, the ability to produce figures in a certain amount of time, the AN groups have no difficulty. They are able to initiate and draw the figures well, indicating good generation ability, as was found by others in a task of initiating categories (Heled et al, 2014).…”

“…Therefore, evidence of verbal versus non‐verbal differentiation is supported by our study, with regard to EF in general, and cognitive strategy use in particular. Clinically, following our findings, we can speculate that in the course of dieting, the patient's perception of her body is inappropriately processed and inclined to a wrong interpretation (Heled et al, ). Consequently, in light of the assumption of Williamson et al () of cognition as a risk factor contributing to the development of AN, and the suggestion of Cavedini et al () of cognitive deficiency as a predisposition for AN, we suggest that the deviation from the ‘normal’ weight loss trajectory of a regular diet is due in part to impaired EF processes.…”

“…Abbate‐Daga et al () compared set shifting abilities in verbal and non‐verbal domains and found no differences between them. Other studies showed a tendency towards impaired performance in tasks of visual features as opposed to verbal tasks, in abilities of conceptualization, problem solving abilities (Heled, Hoofien, Bachner‐Melman, Bachar, & Ebstein, ) and central coherence (Lopez, Tchanturia, Stahl, Booth, Holliday, & Treasure, ).…”

Residual eating disorder symptoms and clinical features in remitted and recovered eating disorder patients: A systematic review with meta‐analysis

“…In terms of executive functions, AN patients in remission underperformed compared to healthy controls in tasks involving visual perception, decision making, memory, social cognition network, and in set shifting (Holliday, Tchanturia, Landau, Collier, & Treasure, 2005;Buehren et al, 2011;McAdams & Krawczyk, 2011: Danner et al, 2012Heled, Hoofien, Bachner-Melman, Bachar, & Ebstein, 2014;Lindner et al, 2014;Talbot et al, 2015;Steward et al, 2016) or showed no significant change after recovery (Bodell et al, 2014;Nikendei et al, 2011). In terms of executive functions, AN patients in remission underperformed compared to healthy controls in tasks involving visual perception, decision making, memory, social cognition network, and in set shifting (Holliday, Tchanturia, Landau, Collier, & Treasure, 2005;Buehren et al, 2011;McAdams & Krawczyk, 2011: Danner et al, 2012Heled, Hoofien, Bachner-Melman, Bachar, & Ebstein, 2014;Lindner et al, 2014;Talbot et al, 2015;Steward et al, 2016) or showed no significant change after recovery (Bodell et al, 2014;Nikendei et al, 2011).…”