Fagundo, Ana BTorre, Rafael de laJiménez-Murcia, SusanaAgüera, ZaidaGranero, RoserTárrega, SaloméBotella, CristinaBaños, RosaFernández-Real, Jose MRodríguez, RoserForcano, LauraFrühbeck, GemaGómez-Ambrosi, JavierTinahones, Francisco JFernández-García, Jose CarlosCasanueva, Felipe FFernández-Aranda, Fernando2013-01-082013-01-082012-08Fagundo AB, de la Torre R, Jiménez-Murcia S, Agüera Z, Granero R, Tárrega S, et al. Executive functions profile in extreme eating/weight conditions: from anorexia nervosa to obesity. PLoS ONE. 2012; 7(8):e43382http://hdl.handle.net/10668/726Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;BACKGROUND Extreme weight conditions (EWC) groups along a continuum may share some biological risk factors and intermediate neurocognitive phenotypes. A core cognitive trait in EWC appears to be executive dysfunction, with a focus on decision making, response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Differences between individuals in these areas are likely to contribute to the differences in vulnerability to EWC. The aim of the study was to investigate whether there is a common pattern of executive dysfunction in EWC while comparing anorexia nervosa patients (AN), obese subjects (OB) and healthy eating/weight controls (HC). METHODS Thirty five AN patients, fifty two OB and one hundred thirty seven HC were compared using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST); Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT); and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). All participants were female, aged between 18 and 60 years. RESULTS There was a significant difference in IGT score (F(1.79); p<.001), with AN and OB groups showing the poorest performance compared to HC. On the WCST, AN and OB made significantly more errors than controls (F(25.73); p<.001), and had significantly fewer correct responses (F(2.71); p<.001). Post hoc analysis revealed that the two clinical groups were not significantly different from each other. Finally, OB showed a significant reduced performance in the inhibition response measured with the Stroop test (F(5.11); p<.001) compared with both AN and HC. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that EWC subjects (namely AN and OB) have similar dysfunctional executive profile that may play a role in the development and maintenance of such disorders.enAnorexia NerviosaTrastorno por Déficit de Atención con HiperactividadObesidadPruebas NeuropsicológicasToma de ConcienciaImagen CorporalMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Mental Disorders::Eating Disorders::Anorexia NervosaMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Mental Disorders::Mental Disorders Diagnosed in Childhood::Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders::Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases::Nutrition Disorders::Overnutrition::ObesityMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavioral Disciplines and Activities::Psychological Tests::Neuropsychological TestsMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Cognition::AwarenessMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Perception::Body ImageMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::Humansresearch article22927962open access10.1371/journal.pone.00433821932-6203