The relationship between emotion-driven impulsivity and inhibition in patients with restrictive and binge/purge type eating disorders.

Abstract

Eating disorders (ED) are common mental disorders with heightened morbidity and the highest mortality rates among all mental disorders. Central to EDs are disturbed patterns of eating behaviour. Binge/purge ED subtypes (anorexia nervosa, binge/purge type (ANBP), and bulimia nervosa (BN)) are more impulsive compared to the restrictive ED subtype (anorexia nervosa, restrictive type (ANR)) which is characterized by its rigid eating behaviour. It is unclear, however, what contributes to the impulsive behaviour in ED. This study investigated the relationship between emotion-driven impulsivity and inhibitory capacity in ED subtypes. In 48 ANR patients, 49 ANBP patients and 32 BN patients inhibitory capacity and emotion-driven impulsivity were investigated using the Stop Signal Task (SST) and the UPPS-P questionnaire respectively. ANBP and BN patients rated themselves higher on emotion-driven impulsivity compared to ANR patients, but no significant differences were found regarding inhibitory capacity. Also no correlation was found between emotion-driven impulsivity and inhibitory capacity. Our results indicate that other factors (e.g. the interference of negative emotions) might play a role in the impulsive behaviour in ED patients. Future studies should investigate these factors more profoundly.