The complexity of the interaction between binge-eating and attention

Roni Halevy-Yosef, Eytan Bachar, Lilach Shalev, Yehuda Pollak, Adi Enoch-Levy, Eitan Gur, Abraham Weizman, Daniel Stein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether binge-eating in patients with eating disorders (EDs) is associated with attentional deficits. Methods We studied ED patients with binge-eating (n = 51), no binge-eating (n = 59) and controls (n = 58). ED patients were assessed following the stabilization of weight and ED pathology. Attention assessment included evaluation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, the Adult ADHD Self-Report (ASRS) and ADHD Rating Scale-IV-Home Version (ADHD-RS) questionnaires, and attention functioning assessed with neuropsychological tools. The severity of eating-related pathology, depression, anxiety and obsessionality was also monitored. Results Patients with binge-eating showed more ADHD symptomatology on the ADHD-RS compared with non-binge-eating patients. No differences were found between binge-eating and non-binge-eating patients in ADHD diagnosis and neuropsychological functioning. Among the specific ED subtypes, patients with anorexia nervosa binge/purge type (AN-B/P) showed the highest rates of ADHD symptomatology on the ADHD-RS, and were characterized with sustained attention deficits. Conclusion Binge-eating is not associated with attention deficits as measured by objective neuropsychological tools. Nonetheless, it is associated with attentional difficulties as measured with the self-reported ADHD-RS. AN-B/P patients are the only ED category showing objective sustained attention deficits.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0215506
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019
Externally publishedYes

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