Premium
Are Weight Status and Cognition Associated? An Examination of Cognitive Development in Children and Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa 1 Year after First Hospitalisation
Author(s) -
Kjærsdam Telléus Gry,
Fagerlund Birgitte,
Jepsen Jens Richardt,
Bentz Mette,
Christiansen Eva,
Valentin Jan Brink,
Thomsen Per Hove
Publication year - 2016
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.2445
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , wechsler adult intelligence scale , psychology , neuropsychology , cognition , wechsler intelligence scale for children , eating disorders , association (psychology) , clinical psychology , intelligence quotient , wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence , neuropsychological assessment , developmental psychology , psychiatry , psychotherapist
Objective The aim of this study was to characterise the association between the cognitive profile and weight restoration in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Methods The study was a longitudinal, matched case–control, multicentre study. An assessment of cognitive functions was conducted by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–III/the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–III, the Test of Memory and Learning–second edition, Trail Making Tests A and B, the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Results One hundred twenty individuals, 60 patients with anorexia nervosa with mean age of 14.65 (SD 1.820) years and 60 healthy controls with mean age of 14.76 (SD 1.704) years, participated. No association was found between weight recovery and cognitive functions. However, a significant increase in motor speed was found in Trail Making Test A ( p = 0.004), Reaction Time (RTI) five‐choice movement time ( p = 0.002) and RTI simple movement time ( p = 0.011), resulting in a normalisation corresponding to that found in healthy controls. Furthermore, a significantly lower score in the perceptual organization index ( p = 0.029) was found at follow‐up. Conclusions Weight recovery appears not to be associated with cognition. Copyright © 2016 The Authors European Eating Disorders Review published by Eating Disorders Association and John Wiley & Sons Ltd