Cognitive Rigidity in Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by significantly low body weight and over-evaluation of weight and shape in self-identity. The complex etiology of Anorexia Nervosa renders many current treatments ineffective, thereby prolonging the course of the illness. Among the many psychological and behavioral features of AN, cognitive features like obsessiveness, rigidity, and perfectionism are often described. Patients hold firm beliefs about an ideal body weight and find it difficult to alter their thinking patterns. Recent studies have identified a pathway to understanding this disorder through characterization of it’s cognitive features. With this research, advances have been made in identifying cognitive processes that likely mediate symptom expression in AN. This paper will describe the cognitive rigidity observed in patients with AN and will include a discussion of therapeutic approaches to target this feature