Executive function in eating disorders: the role of state anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the influence of depression and anxiety on executive function in individuals with a DSM-IV diagnosis of anorexia nervosa-restricting type, anorexia nervosa-binge-eating/purging type, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorder not otherwise specified. METHOD: We assessed 106 women after their inpatient treatment in an eating disorders program. All participants were nutritionally stable at the time of testing. RESULTS: Thirty percent of the total sample showed impaired performance on one or more tests of executive function. No differences in executive function were observed among diagnostic groups. Anxiety scores accounted for significant variance in performance for all groups. DISCUSSION: Executive function deficits were found in a minority of our sample, with significant variance in performance accounted for by self-reported anxiety. State anxiety appears to contribute to diminished executive function in women with eating disorders.

Rate of inpatient weight restoration predicts outcome in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: To examine weight restoration parameters during inpatient treatment as predictors of outcome in anorexia nervosa (AN). METHOD: Adolescent and adult females admitted for inpatient eating disorder treatment were recruited for an ongoing longitudinal study. This analysis examined several weight restoration parameters as predictors of clinical deterioration after discharge among participants with AN. RESULTS: Rate of weight gain was the only restoration parameter that predicted year 1 outcome. Clinical deterioration occurred significantly less often among participants who gained >or=0.8 kg/week (12/41, 29%) than those below this threshold (20/38, 53%) (chi(2) = 4.37, df = 1, p = .037) and remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders. DISCUSSION: Weight gain rate during inpatient treatment for AN was a significant predictor of short-term clinical outcome after discharge. It is unclear whether weight gain rate exerts a causal effect or is rather a marker for readiness to tolerate weight restoration and engage in the recovery process.