Classical Stroop effect in bulimia nervosa

Eat Weight Disord. 2012 Sep;17(3):e203-6. doi: 10.1007/BF03325349.

Abstract

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a distressing condition. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Neurocognitive functioning, and particularly inhibitory control, is a potential biomarker that may improve our understanding of BN. A few small-scale studies have used the classical Stroop Colour Word Test (SCWT) in BN with contradictory findings. We examined SCWT performance in a large sample of people with BN (N=72), eating disorder not otherwise specified--bulimic type (N=43) and healthy controls (N=50). The results found no difference between groups on Stroop interference effect. These findings question the utility of the classical SCWT as an assessment tool in examining executive functioning in BN.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bulimia Nervosa / psychology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Stroop Test / statistics & numerical data*