Abstract
In a feasibility trial comparing two forms of combined inhibitory control training and goal planning (i.e., food-specific and general) among patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), we found evidence of symptomatic benefit, with stronger effects among participants receiving a food-specific intervention. The aim of the present study was to examine changes in behavioral outcomes and event-related potentials (ERPs; N2 and P3 amplitudes) from baseline to post-intervention that might suggest the mechanisms underpinning these effects. Fifty-five participants completed go/no-go tasks during two electroencephalography (EEG) sessions, at baseline and post-intervention. The go/no-go task included “go” cues to low energy-dense foods and non-foods, and “no-go” cues to high energy-dense foods and non-foods. Datasets with poor signal quality and/or outliers were excluded, leaving 48 participants (N = 24 BN; N = 24 BED) in the analyses. Participants allocated to the food-specific, compared to the general intervention group, showed significantly greater reductions in reaction time to low energy-dense foods, compared to non-foods, by post-intervention. Commission errors significantly increased from baseline to post-intervention, regardless of stimulus type (food vs. non-food) and intervention group (food-specific vs. general). There were no significant changes in omission errors. P3 amplitudes to “no-go” cues marginally, but non-significantly, decreased by post-intervention, but there was no significant interaction with stimulus type (high energy-dense food vs. non-food) or intervention group (food-specific vs. general). There were no significant changes in N2 amplitudes to “no-go” cues, N2 amplitudes to “go” cues, or P3 amplitudes to “go” cues from baseline to post-intervention. Training effects were only marginally captured by these event-related potentials. We discuss limitations to the task paradigm, including its two-choice nature, ease of completion, and validity, and give recommendations for future research exploring ERPs using inhibitory control paradigms.
Highlights
RationaleThe number of individuals receiving an eating disorder diagnosis has been increasing since the 1980s (Currin et al, 2005)
In order to improve the quality of current treatments for bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) it is essential to gain a better understanding of mechanisms that underpin bingeeating behavior
No significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics were found between the two intervention groups
Summary
The number of individuals receiving an eating disorder diagnosis has been increasing since the 1980s (Currin et al, 2005). Among individuals with binge eating behavior and/or obesity, attentional biases toward food cues, indicated by quicker reaction times to foods as opposed to non-foods during visual probe tasks, have been consistently reported (Castellanos et al, 2009; Nijs et al, 2010; Werthmann et al, 2011; Nijs and Franken, 2012; Jansen et al, 2015; Deluchi et al, 2017) This attentional bias may reflect difficulty disengaging from food stimuli, and greater reward while processing them (Leehr et al, 2018). The authors have interpreted this as an improvement in inhibitory control processing (Blackburne et al, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
