[Cognitive biases in an experimental task of focalized selective attention in eating disorders].

Introduction: Cognitive processing differences based on attentional biases of words pertaining to eating disorders were investigated. We performed a computerized Stroop color-naming task in which the subjects named the colors of four word groups (food-related, eating disorders behaviours-related, emotional and neutral) to measure differences in the processing of these stimuli.

Method: Participants were 144 females with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or a combination of both) and 172 female controls.

Results: In agreement with predictions, the three eating disorder groups were significantly slower than the controls in identifying the color of all word groups.

Conclusions: These findings indicate the existence of biases in stimuli processing related with eating behavior disorders.