BEING IN OR OUT

The continuum model of the eating disorders proposes
that eating disorders can be described on a
continuous spectrum from restrictive anorexia to
stable obesity. Previous studies suggested that
emotional disturbances (depression, anxiety and
alexithymia), cognitive impairments and distortion of
body image are frequently associated with anorexia
nervosa. However, obesity is mostly regarded as a
weight management problem. In this study we
investigated common deficits in cognition, emotion
and body image underlying the pathology of the two
extreme sides of eating spectrum (restriction and
excessive eating). We applied different behavioural
methods to examine the question form the
neuropsychological assessment, self-reported
questionnaires to Affective Priming paradigm. Our
results suggest that restrictive anorexia nervosa has
several common features with anxiety disorder, while
obesity most probably can be associated with
addictive pathologies. We discuss also the possible
clinical treatment in both pathology.

Autorentext

Dr.Renáta Cserjési was born in Hungary. She graduated fromUniversity of Pécs (PTE, Hungary)in psychology and University ofLouvain (UCL, Belgium) in neuropsychology. She received a jointPh.D in Psychology and Medical Sciences from PTE and UCL in 2008.She is currently a postdoctoral scholar at University of Florence(Italy) for Child Neurology.

Klappentext

The continuum model of the eating disorders proposesthat eating disorders can be described on acontinuous spectrum from restrictive anorexia tostable obesity. Previous studies suggested thatemotional disturbances (depression, anxiety andalexithymia), cognitive impairments and distortion ofbody image are frequently associated with anorexianervosa. However, obesity is mostly regarded as aweight management problem. In this study weinvestigated common deficits in cognition, emotionand body image underlying the pathology of the twoextreme sides of eating spectrum (restriction andexcessive eating). We applied different behaviouralmethods to examine the question form theneuropsychological assessment, self-reportedquestionnaires to Affective Priming paradigm. Ourresults suggest that restrictive anorexia nervosa hasseveral common features with anxiety disorder, whileobesity most probably can be associated withaddictive pathologies. We discuss also the possibleclinical treatment in both pathology.