Abstract

Background

Mental capacity to consent to treatment in anorexia nervosa is a neglected area in clinical decision-making.

Aims

To examine clinical and neuropsychological parameters associated with diminished mental capacity in anorexia nervosa.

Method

An explorative study was conducted in 70 adult female patients with severe anorexia nervosa. Mental capacity to consent to treatment was assessed by experienced psychiatrists. Further measurements included the MacCAT-T (to assess mental capacity status), a range of clinical measures (body mass index (BMI) and comorbidity) and neuropsychological tests assessing decision-making, central coherence and set-shifting capacity.

Results

Diminished mental capacity occurs in a third of patients with severe anorexia nervosa and is associated with a low BMI, less appreciation of illness and treatment, previous treatment for anorexia nervosa, low social functioning and poor set shifting.

Conclusions

Assessment of diminished mental capacity in anorexia nervosa requires careful evaluation of not only BMI, but also the degree of appreciation of illness and treatment, history and the tendency to have a rigid thinking style.

Details

Title
Mental capacity to consent to treatment in anorexia nervosa: explorative study
Author
Elzakkers, Isis FFM 1 ; Danner, Unna N 2 ; Hoek, Hans W 3 ; van Elburg Annemarie A 1 

 Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld, Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Zeist, The Netherlands 
 Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld, Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Zeist, The Netherlands; Parnassia Bavo Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA 
 Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld, Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Zeist, The Netherlands; Department of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands 
Pages
147-153
Publication year
2016
Publication date
Mar 2016
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
e-ISSN
20564724
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2206476576
Copyright
© 2016 This article is published under (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/) (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.