Selective processing of weight- and shape-related words in bulimia nervosa: use of a computerised Stroop test.

Abstract

A computerised Stroop colour-naming task was used to measure concerns about weight, shape, and eating in bulimia nervosa. Two versions of the computerised Stroop were compared, a voice-activated and a button-pressing-activated programme. Bulimia nervosa patients were significantly slower in colour naming shape- and weight-related words than their female age-matched controls. The button-pressing computerised Stroop was both more sensitive and more accurate at measuring colour-naming speeds than the voice-activated version. When the bulimia nervosa group were divided according to their Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) scores, those who showed extreme pathological attitudes to weight and shape were significantly slower in colour naming size words and in food disruption scores than those with a lesser degree of psychopathology. The computerised Stroop might be useful as a diagnostic tool and in the assessment of the effectiveness of therapy for the individual patient.