Anorexia nervosa: One non-biological explanation Flashcards
What is the core cognitive psychopathology of AN?
1
- Distorted perception of body shape/weight
What are people with AN critical of?
1
- Own body shape, misinterpret emotional states as feeling fat even when v thin
What does Gadsby argue and how does this link to AN?
4
- Distorted body schema (mental rep body size, shape)
- Internal cog structure (continually updated)
- Central to self image, distorted in AN as rep body as ^than acc is
- Affects how AN person interacts w environment and judgement of their place in it
What did Beck suggest and find (irrational beliefs)?
1
- Irrational beliefs get 2nd nature + lead to automatic negative thoughts
Examples of AN negative thoughts?
2
- All-or-nothing thinking (“if i don’t improve my weight, im worthless”)
- Catastrophising (worst possible interpretation on least important events)
How is global processing in AN patients?
1
- Impaired, find it difficult to see ‘bigger picture’ or how details fit together
How is enhanced local processing (ELP) in AN patients but what is the drawback of this?
3
- Have ELP (eye for detail)
- Readily focus on tiny flaws (fat eyelids)
- Impaired global processing and ELP = ‘weak central coherence’
Evaluate cognitive explanation of AN
3
Sachdev et al. used fMRI scans w AN/ctrl ppt. When shown images of other peoples bodies, same brain areas active in both groups. Shown images of own = AN ppt had >activation in areas involved in attention. Supports distorted body schema.
Cog processing deficit = outcome not cause of AN. Lang et al. found no diff in recovered/non AN ppt on ROCFT (measure of local/global processing). Concluded >central coherence = result of starvation, hence why it persists after recovery
Cornelissen et al. compared AN/non AN ppt on morphing task. They had to adjust computerised image of themselves until matched their own estimate of body size. Found no sig diff in accuracy. Overestimate = not pathological in AN
