Psychiatry Investig.  2010 Dec;7(4):298-301.

Impaired Set-Shifting Ability in Patients with Eating Disorders, Which Is Not Moderated by Their Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Genotype

• Kim YR
• Kim JE
• Kim MH

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the set-shifting ability in women with both anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and to investigate whether it is contributed by the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype. A total of 102 Korean participants-40 women with lifetime AN, 28 women with lifetime BN, and 34 healthy women of comparable age and intelligence quotient- were examined. A neuropsychological battery of tests was applied and blood samples were obtained for COMT Val158Met genotyping. Set-shifting impairments Trail Making Test (TMT, Part B) were found in patients with AN and BN, respectively. Furthermore, the eating disorders were also linked to deficits in attentional mechanisms (TMT, Part A) and motor skills (Finger Tapping Test). Finally, set-shifting and its link to eating disorders were not moderated by COMT Val158Met genotype.

Keyword

Eating disorders; Set-shifting ability; Anorexia nervosa; Bulimia nervosa; Catechol-O-methyltransferase

MeSH Terms

Aluminum Hydroxide
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Carbonates
Catechol O-Methyltransferase
Eating
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Female
Genotype
Humans
Intelligence
Motor Skills
Trail Making Test
Aluminum Hydroxide
Carbonates
Catechol O-Methyltransferase