Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Sep;30(5):474-485.
doi: 10.1002/erv.2904. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

Comparing executive functions profiles in anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder in adolescence

Clément Ghiotto  1 , Catarina Silva  1   2 , Isabelle Charvin  1 , Paola Atzori  1 , Marion Givaudan  1 , David Da Fonseca  1   2 , Flora Bat-Pitault  1   2
Affiliations

Comparing executive functions profiles in anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder in adolescence

Clément Ghiotto et al. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: Executive functions (EFs) inefficiencies in anorexia nervosa (AN), especially in set-shifting and central coherence, suggest a link between AN and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This study aimed at comparing EF profiles in AN and ASD, and investigating clinical variables associated with the identified EF difficulties.

Method: One hundred and sixty-two adolescents with AN or ASD completed self-report questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety and autism symptoms. Parents completed the behaviour rating of executive functions parent-form (BRIEF-P). Besides comparing EFs in AN and ASD, we also analysed clinical variables scoring below and above the mean age score across the all sample. We additionally examined the relationship between clinical variables and the BRIEF-P indexes in AN.

Results: Participants with ASD had greater EF difficulties than participants with AN on all BRIEF-P scales. In the whole sample, higher autistic features were related to poorer EF. In AN, lower body mass index and particularly higher autism-spectrum quotient (BRI: Beta = 0.55; p < 0.001 and GEC: Beta = 0.50; p < 0.001) were most strongly associated with poorer EF.

Conclusion: Although participants with ASD showed greater difficulties, autistic traits were related to alter EFs in AN. Exploring further this dimension can undeniably allow better adaptive cognitive remediation programs.

Keywords: adolescence; anorexia nervosa; autism spectrum disorder; executive functions; set-shifting.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Average behaviour rating of executive functions parent‐form indexes by diagnostic group (anorexia nervosa restrictive, autism spectrum disorder, and anorexia nervosa binging/purging). *p < 0.05. **p < 0.001. ANB/P, anorexia nervosa binging/purging; ANR, anorexia nervosa restrictive; ASD, autism spectrum disorder; BRI, behavioural regulation index; GEC, global executive composite; MI, metacognition index
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ágh, T. , Kovács, G. , Supina, D. , Pawaskar, M. , Herman, B. K. , Vokó, Z. , & Sheehan, D. V. (2016). A systematic review of the health‐related quality of life and economic burdens of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Eating and Weight Disorders—studies on Anorexia. Bulimia and Obesity, 21(3), 353–364. - PMC - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association . (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.
    1. Arcelus, J. , Mitchell, A. J. , Wales, J. , & Nielsen, S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders: A meta‐analysis of 36 studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7), 724. - PubMed
    1. Baron‐Cohen, S. , Hoekstra, R. A. , Knickmeyer, R. , & Wheelwright, S. (2006). The autism‐spectrum quotient (AQ)‐‐adolescent version. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(3), 343–350. - PubMed
    1. Bentz, M. , Jepsen, J. , Kjaersdam Telléus, G. , Moslet, U. , Pedersen, T. , Bulik, C. M. , & Plessen, K. J. (2017). Neurocognitive functions and social functioning in young females with recent‐onset anorexia nervosa and recovered individuals. Journal of Eating Disorders, 5(1), 5. - PMC - PubMed