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The neuropsychological profile of children at high risk of developing an eating disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2012

R. Kothari ,
F. Solmi ,
J. Treasure  and
N. Micali
R. Kothari*
Affiliation:
Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
F. Solmi
Affiliation:
Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
J. Treasure
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
N. Micali
Affiliation:
Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Miss R. Kothari, Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

There is a large body of evidence indicating that eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by particular neuropsychological profiles. We aimed to further explore whether impairments in neuropsychological functioning previously found in ED groups are present prior to onset, or are secondary to the disorder.

Method

This is the first study to explore neuropsychological functioning in children born to a mother with a lifetime ED, who are therefore at high risk of developing an ED, in a large cohort sample. We investigated intelligence and attention at age 8 years (n = 6201) and working memory (WM) and inhibition at age 10 years (6192) in children who are at high risk of developing an ED, compared to children who are not.

Results

The children of women with lifetime anorexia nervosa (AN) showed high full-scale and performance IQ, increased WM capacity, better visuo-spatial functioning, and decreased attentional control. The children of women with lifetime bulimia nervosa (BN) showed comparatively poor visuo-spatial functioning.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that high intelligence, increased WM capacity and impaired attentional control might be intermediate phenotypes on the pathway between genetic vulnerability and the development of an ED.

Keywords

Attentioneating disorderinhibitionintelligenceworking memory
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 7 , July 2013 , pp. 1543 - 1554
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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