scholarly journals Executive Functions of Adults with Binge-Eating Disorder: The Role of Weight Status and Psychopathology

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Nele Busch ◽  
Ricarda Schmidt ◽  
Anja Hilbert

Findings on executive functions (EFs) in binge-eating disorder (BED) are inconsistent and possibly biased by associated comorbidities. This study aimed to identify whether distinct levels of physical and mental comorbidity are related to EFs in BED. General and food-specific EFs in n = 77 adults with BED were compared to population-based norms and associations with weight status, depressive symptoms, and eating disorder psychopathology were analyzed. To detect within-sample patterns of EF performance, k-means clustering was applied. The results indicated that participants’ general EFs were within the average range with slight deficits in alertness. While depression and eating disorder psychopathology were unrelated to EFs, weight status was associated with food-specific attentional bias that was significantly higher in obesity class 2 than in overweight/obesity class 1 and obesity class 3. Four meaningful clusters with distinct strengths and impairments in general and food-specific EFs but without differences in clinical variables were identified. Altogether, adults with BED showed few specific deficits compared to normative data. Performance was unrelated to depression and eating disorder psychopathology, while weight status was associated with food-specific EFs only. The results highlight the need for longitudinal studies to evaluate the relevance of EFs in BED development and maintenance in neurologically healthy adults.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Rayane Chami ◽  
Valentina Cardi ◽  
Natalia Lawrence ◽  
Pamela MacDonald ◽  
Katie Rowlands ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and effect sizes of clinical outcomes of an intervention that combines inhibitory control training (ICT) and implementation intentions (if-then planning) to target binge eating and eating disorder psychopathology. Methods Seventy-eight adult participants with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder were randomly allocated to receive food-specific, or general, ICT and if-then planning for 4 weeks. Results Recruitment and retention rates at 4 weeks (97.5% and 79.5%, respectively) met the pre-set cut-offs. The pre-set adherence to the intervention was met for the ICT sessions (84.6%), but not for if-then planning (53.4%). Binge eating frequency and eating disorder psychopathology decreased in both intervention groups at post-intervention (4 weeks) and follow-up (8 weeks), with moderate to large effect sizes. There was a tendency for greater reductions in binge eating frequency and eating disorders psychopathology (i.e. larger effect sizes) in the food-specific intervention group. Across both groups, ICT and if-then planning were associated with small-to-moderate reductions in high energy-dense food valuation (post-intervention), food approach (post-intervention and follow-up), anxiety (follow-up), and depression (follow-up). Participants indicated that both interventions were acceptable. Conclusions The study findings reveal that combined ICT and if-then planning is associated with reductions in binge eating frequency and eating disorder psychopathology and that the feasibility of ICT is promising, while improvements to if-then planning condition may be needed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S163-S163
Author(s):  
C. Grilo ◽  
D. Becker

IntroductionBinge-eating disorder (BED) is associated with obesity and with elevated rates of co-occurring major depressive disorder (MDD) but the significance of the diagnostic comorbidity is ambiguous—as is the significance of the onset sequence for MDD and BED.Objective and aimsWe compared eating-disorder psychopathology and psychiatric comorbidity in three subgroups of BED patients: those in whom onset of BED preceded onset of MDD, those with onset of MDD prior to onset of BED, and those without MDD or any psychiatric comorbidity.MethodsA consecutive series of 731 treatment-seeking patients meeting DSM-IV-TR research criteria for BED were assessed reliably by doctoral-clinicians with semi-structured interviews to evaluate lifetime psychiatric disorders (SCID-I/P) and ED psychopathology (EDE Interview).ResultsBased on SCID-I/P, 191 (26%) patients had onset of BED preceding onset of MDD, 114 (16%) had onset of MDD preceding onset of BED, and 426 (58%) had BED without co-occurring disorders. Three groups did not differ with respect to age, ethnicity, or education, but a greater proportion of the group without MDD was male. Three groups did not differ in body-mass-index or binge-eating frequency, but groups differed significantly with respect to eating-disorder psychopathology, with both MDD groups having significantly higher levels than the group without co-occurring disorders. The group having earlier onset of MDD had elevated rates of anxiety disorders compared to the group having earlier onset of BED.ConclusionsMDD in combination with BED—with either order of onset—has a meaningful adverse effect on ED psychopathology and overall psychiatric co-morbidity.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duchesne Monica ◽  
Mattos Paulo ◽  
José Carlos Appolinário ◽  
Silvia Regina de Freitas ◽  
Gabriel Coutinho ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess executive functions of obese individuals with binge eating disorder. METHOD: Thirty-eight obese individuals with binge eating disorder were compared to thirty-eight obese controls without binge eating disorder in terms of their executive functions. All individuals were assessed using the following instruments: Digit Span, Trail Making Tests A and B, Stroop Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. In addition, four subtests from the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome Battery were also used, namely the Zoo Map Test, the Modified Six Elements Test, the Action Program Test and the Rule Shift Cards Test. RESULTS: When compared to obese controls, obese individuals with binge eating disorder presented significant impairment in the following tests: Digit Span backward, Zoo Map Test, Modified Six Elements Test, and Action Program Test. Subjects with binge eating disorder also showed significant more set shifting and perseverative errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. In other measures such as the Digit Span Forward, the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Test and the Rule Shift Cards Test, obese subjects with binge eating disorder did not differ significantly from obese subjects without binge eating disorder. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, in the present sample, obese individuals with binge eating disorder presented executive deficits, especially impairments relating to problem-solving, cognitive flexibility and working memory.


2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Anderson ◽  
Kassandra Gratwick-Sarll ◽  
Caroline Bentley ◽  
Carmel Harrison ◽  
Jonathan Mond

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Rebecca G. Boswell ◽  
Ralitza Gueorguieva ◽  
Carlos M. Grilo

Abstract Background Impulsivity may be a process underlying binge-eating disorder (BED) psychopathology and its treatment. This study examined change in impulsivity during cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or pharmacological treatment for BED and associations with treatment outcomes. Methods In total, 108 patients with BED (NFEMALE = 84) in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of CBT and/or fluoxetine were assessed before treatment, monthly throughout treatment, at post-treatment (16 weeks), and at 12-month follow-up after completing treatment. Patients completed established measures of impulsivity, eating-disorder psychopathology, and depression, and were measured for height and weight [to calculate body mass index (BMI)] during repeated assessments by trained/monitored doctoral research-clinicians. Mixed-effects models using all available data examined changes in impulsivity and the association of rapid and overall changes in impulsivity on treatment outcomes. Exploratory analyses examined whether baseline impulsivity predicted/moderated outcomes. Results Impulsivity declined significantly throughout treatment and follow-up across treatment groups. Rapid change in impulsivity and overall change in impulsivity during treatment were significantly associated with reductions in eating-disorder psychopathology, depression scores, and BMI during treatment and at post-treatment. Overall change in impulsivity during treatment was associated with subsequent reductions in depression scores at 12-month follow-up. Baseline impulsivity did not moderate/predict eating-disorder outcomes or BMI but did predict change in depression scores. Conclusions Rapid and overall reductions in impulsivity during treatment were associated with improvements in specific eating-disorder psychopathology and associated general outcomes. These effects were found for both CBT and pharmacological treatment for BED. Change in impulsivity may be an important process prospectively related to treatment outcome.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Wadad Kathy Tannous ◽  
Phillipa Hay ◽  
Federico Girosi ◽  
Andreea I. Heriseanu ◽  
Moin Uddin Ahmed ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The most common eating disorders (EDs) are bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), serious psychiatric illnesses that have devastating effects on the physical and psychological wellbeing of sufferers. EDs range in complexity and severity but can be life-threatening without appropriate treatment. Although it is well-known that quality of life impacts is high for ED sufferers, research regarding fiscal and related costs is severely limited. The aim of this study was to understand economic and other costs of EDs at the community level. Method Data were derived from 2017 household community representative structured interview of 2977 people aged ⩾ 15 years in South Australia. ED diagnoses, health systems, productivity, transaction, out-of-pocket expenses and other related costs of BN and BED were used to estimate the economic burden of EDs in South Australia. Results The annual total economic cost of EDs in 2018 was estimated at $84 billion for South Australia. This included $81 billion from the burden of disease as the result of years lived with disability (YLD) ($62 billion) and years of life lost ($19 billion). The health system costs, productivity and tax revenue loss to the Australian economy were estimated at $1 billion, $1.6 billion and $0.6 billion, respectively. Conclusions The YLD average cost in 2018 in South Australia was $296 649 per person. This is two-thirds of the costs borne by individuals and the wider economy. Prevention and management initiatives for EDs need to take into account these costs when assessing their potential benefits.


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