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Is anorexia nervosa a version of autism spectrum disorders?
Author(s) -
Oldershaw Anna,
Treasure Janet,
Hambrook David,
Tchanturia Kate,
Schmidt Ulrike
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.1069
Subject(s) - psychology , anorexia nervosa , cognition , eating disorders , empathy , autism , wisconsin card sorting test , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , psychiatry , neuropsychology
Objectives Similarities have been noted between cognitive profiles of anorexia nervosa (AN) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, there are no direct comparison studies. This study aimed to compare the cognitive profile of AN against published ASD data on tasks measuring empathy, executive function and central coherence. Methods Currently ill AN outpatients ( n = 40) were statistically compared against published ASD scores on Reading the Mind in the Eyes, Voice and Films tasks (assessing empathy), Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) (assessing executive function) and Embedded Figures Task (EFT) (assessing detail focus aspect of central coherence). Results Cognitive profiles of the groups were statistically similar, except for differences in the relative patterns of empathy scores. Conclusions The cognitive profile in current AN resembles that of ASD with important clinical implications. Replication studies with planned comparisons, examination of the state‐or trait‐nature of AN profile and clarification of factors underpinning similarities are required in order to broaden understanding of both disorders. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.