The present study explored the association between some psychological symptoms related to worry, metacognition, and autonomic activity, in a group of 13 patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) as compared to 13 healthy controls (HCs). Specifically, trait and state anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and metacognitive beliefs were assessed through self-report questionnaires. Heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC), as representative measures of autonomic activation, were recorded at rest. Patients with AN reported significantly higher anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and maladaptive metacognitions than HCs. Further, patients showed significantly lower skin conductance level (SCL) and HR than HCs, pointing to an overall autonomic hypo-activation, which was uncorrelated with psychological symptoms. A significant correlation was observed between HR, but not SCL, and body mass index (BMI) in patients, suggesting that autonomic hypo-activation could only partially be ascribed to the reduced body weight, as measured through BMI. Remarkably, a significant negative correlation was found between patients' SCL and a metacognitive dimension (i.e., the negative beliefs concerning the consequences of not controlling thoughts), which may have critical implications for AN treatment.

Reduced sympathetic activity and dysfunctional metacognition in patients with Anorexia Nervosa: A preliminary study

PENOLAZZI, Barbara;
2017-01-01

Abstract

The present study explored the association between some psychological symptoms related to worry, metacognition, and autonomic activity, in a group of 13 patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) as compared to 13 healthy controls (HCs). Specifically, trait and state anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and metacognitive beliefs were assessed through self-report questionnaires. Heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC), as representative measures of autonomic activation, were recorded at rest. Patients with AN reported significantly higher anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and maladaptive metacognitions than HCs. Further, patients showed significantly lower skin conductance level (SCL) and HR than HCs, pointing to an overall autonomic hypo-activation, which was uncorrelated with psychological symptoms. A significant correlation was observed between HR, but not SCL, and body mass index (BMI) in patients, suggesting that autonomic hypo-activation could only partially be ascribed to the reduced body weight, as measured through BMI. Remarkably, a significant negative correlation was found between patients' SCL and a metacognitive dimension (i.e., the negative beliefs concerning the consequences of not controlling thoughts), which may have critical implications for AN treatment.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Palomba_AN_SC_JEBP_2017.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Documento in Versione Editoriale
Licenza: Digital Rights Management non definito
Dimensione 301.31 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
301.31 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11368/2898579
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 12
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 11
social impact