Emotion recognition, set-shifting and anorexia nervosa
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Emotion recognition, set-shifting and anorexia nervosa
IRAS ID
220842
Contact name
Royston Hall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 4 days
Research summary
The present research study seeks to explore emotion recognition (specifically, the ability to recognise emotions shown in faces) in participants with anorexia nervosa (AN) using a novel and sensitive measure. It has been suggested in the literature that individuals with AN may have difficulty recognising emotions in faces, however, replication of this finding has been inconsistent, partially due to the significant variability and limitation of the emotion recognition measures used in research designs. The study also seeks to explore whether performance on emotion recognition might relate to known cognitive deficits in AN such as executive function difficulties (e.g. ability to shift attention). The study will therefore use novel and sensitive measures of emotion recognition and executive function in the form of a brief computerised tasks with high clinical utility. Participants will also be asked to complete routine clinical questionnaires looking at co-morbid factors that may influence performance on emotion recognition or executive functioning tasks including measures of eating behaviours, depression, anxiety and alexithymia (difficulty with naming emotions). The premise of the study is framed within a neuropsychological model of anorexia nervosa and the tasks used are designed to test aspects of this model. The outcome of this research may inform revision of neuropsychological models and/or clinical interventions such as cognitive remediation therapy.
The computer task takes 25 minutes to complete and the questionnaires take on average 20-30 minutes making the overall study time about an hour. Participants will be invited to participate if they are female, have a current diagnosis of AN and are are over the age of 18. The study will be conducted across a number of NHS sites across the southwest of England including Cornwall, Bristol, Somerset and Oxford.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0908
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion