PERFORMANCE VARIABILITY AS A NEW THEORETICAL MECHANISM REGARDING EATING DISORDERS AND COGNITIVE PROCESSING

Bulimic (n = 23) and control subjects (n = 28) were compared on four n europsychological tests and several clinical variables. Between-group differences were observed on neuropsychological measures that reflecte d marked impulsivity and problem-solving deficits in the bulimics. Add itional between-group comparisons, based on the variability of perform ance on the neuropsychological tests, revealed that bulimics were more variable than controls on approximately 50% of the tests given. Perfo rmance variability on the remaining two tests was equal across the bul imic and control groups. This represents the first known application o f this performance variability analysis in subjects with bulimia nervo sa. It is proposed that there may be considerable variability in perfo rmance among bulimics and that by examining performance from this ''su b-group'' perspective may lead to a more analytic understanding of thi s eating disorder. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.