Clinical and Neurophysiological Correlates of Emotion and Food Craving Regulation in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa.

Juan Francisco Navas,Janet Treasure,Ignacio Martínez-Zalacaín,José César Perales,Isabel Sánchez,Giulia Testa,Roser Granero,Rayane Chami,Alberto Megías,María Lozano-Madrid,Nuria Mallorquí-Bagué,Nadine Riesco,José Antonio Fernández-Formoso,Cristina Vintró-Alcaraz,Susana Jiménez-Murcia,Misericordia Veciana De Las Heras,Fernando Fernández-Aranda

doi:10.3390/jcm9040960

Abstract

Background: Difficulties in emotion regulation and craving regulation have been linked to eating symptomatology in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), contributing to the maintenance of their eating disorder. Methods: To investigate clinical and electrophysiological correlates of these processes, 20 patients with AN and 20 healthy controls (HC) completed a computerized task during EEG recording, where they were instructed to down-regulate negative emotions or food craving. Participants also completed self-report measures of emotional regulation and food addiction. The P300 and Late Positive Potential (LPP) ERPs were analysed. Results: LPP amplitudes were significantly smaller during down-regulation of food craving among both groups. Independent of task condition, individuals with AN showed smaller P300 amplitudes compared to HC. Among HC, the self-reported use of re-appraisal strategies positively correlated with LPP amplitudes during emotional regulation task, while suppressive strategies negatively correlated with LPP amplitudes. The AN group, in comparison to the HC group, exhibited greater food addiction, greater use of maladaptive strategies, and emotional dysregulation. Conclusions: Despite the enhanced self-reported psychopathology among AN, both groups indicated neurophysiological evidence of food craving regulation as evidenced by blunted LPP amplitudes in the relevant task condition. Further research is required to delineate the mechanisms associated with reduced overall P300 amplitudes among individuals with AN.

Highlights

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is recognized as a severe mental disorder characterized by restrained eating, dysfunctional thoughts, preoccupation concerning food and body image disturbance [1,2]
Previous Event-related potentials (ERPs) findings did not appear to mirror clarifying findings regarding eating disorders’ aetiology and functioning. To this date, they might not be used as accurate parameters or biomarkers that could be directly employed in the diagnosis or treatment of eating disorders [98]
This is the first study which has examined the electrophysiological features of emotion and food craving regulation among patients with anorexia nervosa (AN)

Summary

Introduction

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is recognized as a severe mental disorder characterized by restrained eating, dysfunctional thoughts, preoccupation concerning food and body image disturbance [1,2]. Suppression consists of inhibiting the behavioural expression of an emotional response to a stressor, while reappraisal implicates reinterpreting the meaning of an emotional event [7]. The former is considered to be a maladaptive response, the latter is considered to be an adaptive strategy used to reduce the impact of negative emotional states evoked during stressful situations. Conclusions: Despite the enhanced self-reported psychopathology among AN, both groups indicated neurophysiological evidence of food craving regulation as evidenced by blunted LPP amplitudes in the relevant task condition. Further research is required to delineate the mechanisms associated with reduced overall P300 amplitudes among individuals with AN

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Conclusion