Cognitive remediation and emotion skills training for anorexia nervosa: an observational study using neuropsychological outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate a novel and brief skills-based therapy for in-patients with anorexia nervosa, which addressed 'cold' and 'hot' cognition.

METHOD

Eighty one adults with anorexia nervosa were recruited from two eating disorder in-patient units. In one unit, patients received 10 sessions of cognitive remediation and emotion skills training (CREST) plus treatment as usual. In the other, patients received treatment as usual only. Primary outcomes were body mass index and neuropsychological performance scores.

RESULTS

Both groups improved significantly in body mass index and cognitive flexibility. The CREST group also improved on central coherence. Neither group improved significantly on emotion-processing tasks, although the CREST group did show a larger magnitude of change.

CONCLUSION

Improvement in 'cold' cognition was achieved in a short period, whereas emotion-processing difficulties might take longer and more therapeutic work to change. Given that effect sizes in the CREST group were larger for the emotion-processing tasks, improved power may benefit future studies.