The cognitive profile of anorexia nervosa: a comparative study including a community-based sample

A community-based sample of adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa (AN) cases (n = 51) was contrasted with an age-, sex-, and school-matched comparison group [comp] (n = 51) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) at a mean age of 21 years. There were no study dropouts. Fewer than 10% of AN cases were underweight at the time of testing. Overall, there were few differences across the two groups, even though the COMP group performed significantly better on the object assembly subtest. A small subgroup of AN cases showed autism-spectrum disorders. This subgroup tended toward test profiles similar to those observed in autism and Asperger syndrome. These findings are discussed in relation to the clinical need for subgrouping of AN cases with a view to improving treatment programs/interviews.