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Comparison of neuropsychological profiles in children and adolescent with anorexia nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

C. Basile ,
F. Gigliotti ,
M. Colaiori ,
F. Di Santo ,
A. Terrinoni ,
I. Ardizzone  and
U. Sabatello
C. Basile*
Affiliation:
Department Of Human Neuroscience,section Of Child And Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
F. Gigliotti
Affiliation:
Department Of Human Neuroscience,section Of Child And Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
M. Colaiori
Affiliation:
Department Of Human Neuroscience, Section Of Child And Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
F. Di Santo
Affiliation:
Department Of Human Neuroscience, Section Of Child And Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
A. Terrinoni
Affiliation:
Department Of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, RM, Italy
I. Ardizzone
Affiliation:
Department Of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
U. Sabatello
Affiliation:
Department Of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Section of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, RM, Italy
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by low body weight, fear of gaining weight and distorted perception of body. Patients have rigidity, repetition of thoughts, alterations in decision-making skills and poor ability to provide new solutions. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a new eating disorder characterized by the absence of distress about body shape or fear of weight gain. Studies on neurocognitive aspects are few and no effective treatments are known.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to further investigate the executive functions’ domains in AN and ARFID children and adolescents, to provide possible distinct neurocognitive traits in these patients.

Methods

AN or ARFID patients (15 + 15; range 6-18 years), were assessed by neuropsychological tools, such as: Wechsler Intelligence Scale to measure I.Q. profile, NEPSY-II to explore attention and executive functions, Tower of London test to detect planning and problem solving abilities, the Bells Test to evaluate visual selective and focused attention, the Wisconsing Card Sorting Test (WCST) for assessment of flexibility and directing behaviors by achieving a goal and the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCF) to assess visual-spatial abilities.

Results

Patients with ARFID presented impairments in several executive functions domains, with difficulties in the impulse inhibition, in the sustained attention and in visual-spatial skills. Finally, in their anamnesis a higher comorbidity with neurodevelopmental disorders such as specific learning disorder has been underlined.

Conclusions

The identification of specific deficit in neuropsychological profile of ARFID patients could be a rehabilitation target, together with standardized treatment.

Keywords

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorderanorexia nervosaneurodevelopmentexecutive function
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 64 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 29th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2021 , pp. S351 - S352
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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