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Updated: Jun 7, 2025

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Neuropsychological profile in young girls at high risk of developing anorexia nervosa
Karin Dahlin1, Kajsa Järvholm2, Sandra Rydberg Dobrescu3
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Objective:
Previous research has shown anorexia nervosa (AN) to be associated with a specific neuropsychological profile, including set-shifting and central coherence deviances. A similar profile has been shown in adult unaffected relatives. The aim of this study was to examine whether poor set-shifting and central coherence abilities could be detected in children at high risk of developing AN.
Method:
Twenty-eight biological healthy daughters of women with previous or current AN and 42 biological daughters of healthy women, all between six and 12 years of age, participated in the study. A neuropsychological test battery (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Trail Making Test and Rey Complex Figure Test) was used to assess set-shifting and central coherence abilities.
Results:
No differences in set-shifting or central coherence performance were detected between the high-risk group and the comparison group. Adjustments for age and intelligence quotient (IQ) did not affect the results.
Conclusions:
Our results did not support the notion of preexisting neuropsychological deficits in AN-related cognitive domains among high-risk girls.
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