An Investigation of Cognitive Flexibility and Related Factors in Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental illness characterised by significantly low body weight and disturbances in how one experiences their body weight or shape. This thesis explores the role of cognitive inflexibility - the inability to adapt to changes in the environment and/or changing task demands. It was found that people with AN perceive themselves to be cognitively rigid and inflexible, but may not experience objective cognitive flexibility impairments. This key finding has implications for patient treatment seeking and engagement, as patients may be hesitant to seek/remain engaged in treatment if they perceive themselves as rigid and unable to change.