Enduring Changes in Decision Making in Patients with Full Remission from Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Background

Deficits in neuropsychological functioning have consistently been identified in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, little is known on how decision making in AN patients evolves in response to treatment or whether impairments are reversible. Method

AN patients (n = 42) completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) upon admission to a 3-month day-hospital treatment programme and at a 1-year follow-up. Patient IGT performance was compared to age-matched controls (n = 46). Results

AN patients displayed poorer performance on the IGT at admission compared to controls (p < .001). Patients with full remission (n = 31; 73.9%) at the 1-year follow-up improved IGT performance (p = 0.007), and scores were similar compared to controls (p = 0.557). AN patients with partial/no remission at follow-up (n = 11; 26.1%) did not improve IGT scores (p = 0.867). Conclusions

These findings uphold that enduring remission from AN can reverse decision-making impairments, and they might be most likely explained by clinical state rather than a trait vulnerability.