Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
08:26
Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Can cognitive exercises help treat anorexia nervosa?
K Tchanturia1, J Whitney, J Treasure
1King's College University of London, Institute of Psychiatry, Eating Disorders, London, United Kingdom. spjeket@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD
|February 3, 2007
Summary
Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) may benefit anorexia nervosa (AN) patients by improving cognitive rigidity. This approach targets set-shifting deficits not resolved by weight gain alone, offering a new treatment avenue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) is established for psychosis and brain lesions.
- Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with cognitive inflexibility, particularly in set-shifting tasks.
- Weight gain in AN does not fully restore neuropsychological function.
Observation:
- This case report explores CRT for anorexia nervosa.
- Previous research indicated cognitive set-shifting deficits in AN patients.
- Weight restoration alone did not improve these cognitive deficits.
Findings:
- CRT training programs can address cognitive rigidity in AN.
- This case study suggests CRT's potential as an adjunctive therapy for AN.
- Improvements in cognitive set-shifting were observed.
Implications:
- CRT may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for AN.
- Targeting cognitive inflexibility could enhance AN treatment outcomes.
- Further research is warranted to validate CRT's efficacy in AN.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...