Anna Karavia1, Fotini Kapsali2, Fragiskos Gonidakis3, Arta Koliou3, Evdoxia Tsigkaropoulou4, Charalabos Papageorgiou3, Ioannis Michopoulos4. 1. Second Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, "Attikon" University General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Rimini St, 12462, Athens, Greece. annkaravia@gmail.com. 2. Psychiatric Hospital of Attica, 374 Athinon Ave., 12462, Athens, Greece. 3. First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 74 Vas. Sofias Ave., 11528, Athens, Greece. 4. Second Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, "Attikon" University General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1 Rimini St, 12462, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine olfactory capacity in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN), in terms of odor identification and odor threshold and search for possible correlations between odor identification and cognitive flexibility in this population. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with AN and 60 healthy participants, participated. Odor identification was assessed using the University Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and a two alternative forced choice, ascending method with n-butanol was used to assess odor threshold. Cognitive flexibility was determined using the Intra/Extra-Dimensional Set-Shift test (IED), a subtest of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). RESULTS: Patients with AN presented a poorer performance in odor identification compared with controls (p = 0.001). No differences were found in odor threshold, between the two groups. Patients with AN exhibited poor cognitive flexibility compared with controls (p = 0.003). A significant correlation between odor identification and cognitive flexibility was documented in AN (p = 0.01), but not in controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that olfactory capacity is altered in AN: Qualitative characteristics of olfaction were affected in patients with AN (lower odor identification), while there was no difference in quantitative characteristics (odor threshold) compared with controls. Furthermore, odor identification in AN was correlated to cognitive flexibility. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: case-control analytic study.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine olfactory capacity in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN), in terms of odor identification and odor threshold and search for possible correlations between odor identification and cognitive flexibility in this population. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with AN and 60 healthy participants, participated. Odor identification was assessed using the University Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test and a two alternative forced choice, ascending method with n-butanol was used to assess odor threshold. Cognitive flexibility was determined using the Intra/Extra-Dimensional Set-Shift test (IED), a subtest of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). RESULTS: Patients with AN presented a poorer performance in odor identification compared with controls (p = 0.001). No differences were found in odor threshold, between the two groups. Patients with AN exhibited poor cognitive flexibility compared with controls (p = 0.003). A significant correlation between odor identification and cognitive flexibility was documented in AN (p = 0.01), but not in controls. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that olfactory capacity is altered in AN: Qualitative characteristics of olfaction were affected in patients with AN (lower odor identification), while there was no difference in quantitative characteristics (odor threshold) compared with controls. Furthermore, odor identification in AN was correlated to cognitive flexibility. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: case-control analytic study.
Authors: Mohammed A Islam; Ana B Fagundo; Jon Arcelus; Zaida Agüera; Susana Jiménez-Murcia; José M Fernández-Real; Francisco J Tinahones; Rafael de la Torre; Cristina Botella; Gema Frühbeck; Felipe F Casanueva; José M Menchón; Fernando Fernandez-Aranda Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2015-09-30