Selective working memory deficits in anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Objective The study investigated the effects of anorexia nervosa (AN) on the three components of working memory, and the extent to which these could be attributed to preoccupying cognitions concerning food, weight and body shape. Method Participants were 24 young women with AN aged from 17 to 27 years. Their performance on the Double Span Memory task was compared against that of 24 dieting and 24 non-dieting controls. The Double Span Memory task presents a series of common objects in randomly chosen locations of a 4 × 4 grid, and requires participants to name the objects (phonological loop), point to the locations (visuo-spatial sketch pad) or both (central executive). Participants also completed a self-report measure of preoccupying thoughts about food, weight and body shape, as well as a measure of crystallised intelligence. Results Relative to non-dieting controls, dieters and AN patients performed significantly more poorly on the combined recall. AN patients alone showed impaired performance on the single recall of locations. Covariance analyses indicated that the group × recall type interaction was accounted for by self-reports of preoccupying cognitions. Discussion AN is associated with disruption of the functioning of the visuo-spatial sketch pad and central executive components of working memory. These deficits are at least partly attributable to an intense preoccupation with dieting-related thoughts, and may contribute to difficulties in processing complex information within the therapeutic context. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.