Cognitive performance in hospitalized patients with severe or extreme anorexia nervosa.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Severe malnourishment may reduce cognitive performance in anorexia nervosa (AN). We studied cognitive functioning during intensive nutritional and medical stabilization in patients with severe or extreme AN and investigated associations between weight gain and cognitive improvement.

Methods

A few days after admission to a specialized hospital unit, 33 patients with severe or extreme AN, aged 16-42 years, completed assessments of memory, cognitive flexibility, processing speed, and attention. Mean hospitalization was 6 weeks. Patients completed the same assessments at discharge (n = 22) following somatic stabilization and follow-up up to 6 months after discharge (n = 18).

Results

The patients displayed normal cognitive performance at admission compared to norma

SUBMITTER: Hemmingsen SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10590307 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature