خودکنترلی ذهنی و همزیستی تکانشگری رفتاری در بی اشتهایی عصبی

Objective Anorexia nervosa (AN) has been associated with impulse regulation problems. This study investigated subjective and behavioural impulsivity in women with anorexia nervosa (n=15) and a control group (n=16). Method A self-report measure (the impulsiveness, venturesomeness, and empathy questionnaire; I7) and two behavioural measures (a continuous performance task [CPT]; and a novel risk taking measure [Bets 16]) of impulsivity were used along with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results The AN group had elevated BDI scores and lower self-reported impulsiveness and venturesomeness scores, but they also displayed impulsive behaviour on the CPT (more errors of commission with faster reaction times). Discussion The coexistence, in AN, of self-reported self-control and behavioural impulsivity indicates that the relationship between impulsivity and disordered eating in AN is more complex than previously recognised and supports the view that self-awareness in AN is low.

Casper, Hedeker, and McClough, (1992) proposed that the eating disorders anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) may be at opposing ends of an impulsive/control continuum: they reported lower scores in an AN group for impulsivity and danger seeking and suggested that traits associated with AN reflect accentuated self-control, caution, and conscientiousness. This view is supported by Vitousek and Manke (1994), who suggested that BN involves behaviours (compulsiveness, impulsivity, and affective instability) which are opposite to those of AN (rigidity and constraint). Empirical studies of impulsivity have used both self-report questionnaires and more objective behavioural measures (e.g., reaction time tasks), as indices of different aspects of the multi-dimensional impulsivity construct (Gerbing et al., 1987 and Malle & Neubauer, 1991). However, investigations of impulsivity in disordered eating have mostly used self-report measures. Using the self-report I7 questionnaire, Fahy and Eisler (1993) found that women with BN had higher scores on the impulsivity scales (impulsiveness and venturesomeness) than an AN group. Claes, Vandereycken, and Vertommen (2002) also found that a restricting AN group had significantly lower I7 impulsiveness scores than a BN group, but did not differ from controls on either measure. However, using a continuous performance task (CPT), Seed, Dixon, McCluskey, and Young (2000) found that women with AN responded to more non-targets (errors of commission; indicating impulsivity) and missed more target stimuli (errors of omission; indicating inattention) than controls, without any differences in response latencies.