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Insight in eating disorders: clinical and cognitive correlates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2011

G. Konstantakopoulos ,
K. Tchanturia ,
S. A. Surguladze  and
A. S. David
G. Konstantakopoulos*
Affiliation:
Section of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK First Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Greece
K. Tchanturia
Affiliation:
Psychological Medicine, Section of Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
S. A. Surguladze
Affiliation:
Section of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
A. S. David
Affiliation:
Section of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: G. Konstantakopoulos, M.D., Section of Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to explore the extent of lack of insight and its components in eating disorders (EDs) and to investigate the relationship between insight and clinical and cognitive characteristics in this group.

Method

Seventy-five participants were enrolled in the study: 25 with anorexia nervosa (AN), 15 with bulimia nervosa (BN) and 35 healthy controls (HC). Insight was assessed with a modified version of the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight for EDs (SAI-ED) and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis was used to clarify the internal structure of the scale. Neuropsychological tests included the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Brixton Test and a Verbal Fluency Task.

Results

Only a subgroup of AN patients (24%) had severe impairment of insight. Patients with the restricting type of AN (AN-R) had poorer overall insight than patients with the binge-purge type of the disorder (AN-B/P). More of the ED patients displayed a deliberate denial of illness rather than a lack of awareness of the illness. A regression model revealed that only performance in part B of the TMT (TMT-B) was a moderate predictor of insight level. No association was found between insight and other cognitive or clinical variables.

Conclusions

Impaired insight is a significant feature of some ED patients. Insight in EDs seems to be partially dependent on intact mental flexibility.

Keywords

Anorexia nervosabulimia nervosadenial of illnessinsightset shifting
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 9 , September 2011 , pp. 1951 - 1961
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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