Cognitions and Emotions in Eating Disorders

Abstract

The cognitive model of eating disorders (EDs) states that the processing of external and internal stimuli might be biased in mental disorders. These biases, or cognitive errors, systematically distort the individual's experiences and, in that way, maintains the eating disorder. This chapter presents an updated literature review of experimental studies investigating these cognitive biases. Results indicate that ED patients show biases in attention, interpretation, and memory when it comes to the processing of food-, weight-, and body shape-related cues. Some recent studies show that they also demonstrate errors in general cognitive abilities such as set shifting, central coherence, and decision making. A future challenge is whether cognitive biases and processes can be manipulated. Few preliminary studies suggest that an attention retraining and training in the cognitive modulation of food reward processing might be effective strategies to change body satisfaction, food cravings, and eating behavior.

Eating disorders need more experimental psychopathology

“…The disorder is exceptionally difficult to treat, though treatment studies are scarce (Bulik, 2014). A series of cross-sectional studies show deviant neurobiological brain responses which led diverse experts to argue that AN is a neurobiological disorder (see e.g., Adan & Kaye, 2011;Bulik, 2014;Ehrlich, Geisler, Ritschel, King, Seidel, Bohm et al, 2015;Klump et al, 2009;O'Hara, Campbell, & Schmidt, 2015;Monteleone et al, 2016;Park, Godier, & Cowdrey, 2014;Treasure et al, 2010). They stress the abnormal functioning of central reward systems in AN and state that this deregulated reward processing is central to the development of AN.…”

Exploring the Relationship Between Disordered Eating and Executive Function in a Non-Clinical Sample

“…Set shifting is the ability to change quickly one's cognitive set or frame of reference in order to meet changing current and situational demands (Miyake et al, 2000). A behavioral manifestation of poor setshifting includes cognitive inflexibility or a rigid tendency to approach problems repeatedly in the same fashion, perhaps even when the approach no longer leads to desired goals (this has also been described as an inability to approach problems abstractly; Siep et al, 2011). ED patients with AN and BN have shown setshifting deficits in their approach to eating, body image, and/or a general selfconcept and goal setting strategy (Roberts et al, 2007;Tchanturia et al, 2004Tchanturia et al, , 2012.…”

Processing of food stimuli in anorexia nervosa: An ERP‐study comparing adolescents and adults

“…Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder, for which a multifactorial etiology and maintenance including biological, socio‐cultural and psychological factors is assumed (Herpertz‐Dahlmann & Dahmen, 2019; Munro et al., 2017). According to the cognitive model of eating disorders (ED) biased processing of internal and external disorder‐relevant stimuli, for example, body or food images, is a relevant part of the etiology and maintenance of EDs (Siep et al., 2011). Former studies identified this altered processing of stimuli in terms of an attentional bias (AB) (Siep et al., 2011; Williamson et al., 2004).…”