Weak central coherence in eating disorders: a step towards looking for an endophenotype of eating disorders

J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2009 Jan;31(1):117-25. doi: 10.1080/13803390802036092. Epub 2008 Jun 4.

Abstract

Previous work has found that women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have weak coherence. The aim of this study was to examine whether women who had recovered from an eating disorder (ED) also had weak coherence. A total of 42 recovered ED women and 42 healthy women were assessed with a battery of five neuropsychological tests that measure aspects of global or local functioning. The recovered ED group showed superior local processing and poorer global processing than the healthy group. These results are indicative of weak coherence. The finding that weak coherence is a stable characteristic rather than a state effect suggests that it may be an endophenotype for ED.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / genetics*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mental Processes / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Phenotype
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Young Adult