Skip to main content
Duke University Libraries
DukeSpace Scholarship by Duke Authors
  • Login
  • Ask
  • Menu
  • Login
  • Ask a Librarian
  • Search & Find
  • Using the Library
  • Research Support
  • Course Support
  • Libraries
  • About
View Item 
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Duke Dissertations
  • View Item
  •   DukeSpace
  • Theses and Dissertations
  • Duke Dissertations
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Maladaptive Rule-Governed Behavior in Anorexia Nervosa: The Need for Certainty and Control

Thumbnail
View / Download
801.1 Kb
Date
2014
Author
Moskovich, Ashley A.
Advisor
Zucker, Nancy L
Repository Usage Stats
558
views
593
downloads
Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a dangerous disorder characterized by unrelenting rigidity that continues even in the presence of deadly outcomes. Despite this, our understanding of factors that promote and maintain rigidity is lacking. The current paper proposes a model suggesting that rigid behaviors in AN can be formulated as maladaptive rule-governed behavior that emerges in contexts of uncertainty and loss of control, such as in the presence of affective arousal. An empirical study examining the differences between individuals weight recovered from AN (AN-WR) and healthy controls (CN) on parameters of rule-governed behavior in neutral and stressful contexts is described. Seventy-four adults (AN-WR: 36; CN: 38) were randomized to undergo either a stressful or neutral mood manipulation and then completed a laboratory assessment of rule-governed behavior, along with questionnaires measuring difficulties with uncertainty. While the AN-WR group demonstrated greater flexibility in rule implementation compared to the CN group, they evidenced greater impairment in behavioral extinction. Furthermore, although affective arousal did not significantly impact rule-governed behavior as expected, difficulties tolerating uncertainty were significantly related to rule-governed outcomes exclusively in the AN-WR group. Taken together, findings provide preliminary support for maladaptive rule-governed behavior in AN and suggest that this is related to an intolerance of uncertainty. Findings and treatment implications are discussed in light of study limitations.

Type
Dissertation
Department
Psychology and Neuroscience
Subject
Clinical psychology
anorexia nervosa
cognitive flexibility
eating disorders
rigidity
set-shifting
uncertainty
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/9060
Citation
Moskovich, Ashley A. (2014). Maladaptive Rule-Governed Behavior in Anorexia Nervosa: The Need for Certainty and Control. Dissertation, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/9060.
Collections
  • Duke Dissertations
More Info
Show full item record
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Rights for Collection: Duke Dissertations


Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info

Make Your Work Available Here

How to Deposit

Browse

All of DukeSpaceCommunities & CollectionsAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit DateThis CollectionAuthorsTitlesTypesBy Issue DateDepartmentsAffiliations of Duke Author(s)SubjectsBy Submit Date

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics
Duke University Libraries

Contact Us

411 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-5870
Perkins Library Service Desk

Digital Repositories at Duke

  • Report a problem with the repositories
  • About digital repositories at Duke
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession and DMCA Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickrInstagramBlogs

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Re-use & Attribution / Privacy
  • Harmful Language Statement
  • Support the Libraries
Duke University