Set-shifting and its relation to clinical and personality variables in full recovery of anorexia nervosa.

Objective: First, this study aimed to explore whether set-shifting is inefficient after full recovery of anorexia nervosa (recAN). Second, this study wanted to explore the relation of set-shifting to clinical and personality variables.

Method: A total of 100 recAN women were compared with 100 healthy women. Set-shifting was assessed with Berg's Card Sorting Test. Expert interviews yielded assessments for the inclusion/exclusion criteria, self-ratings for clinical and personality variables.

Results: Compared with the healthy control group, the recAN participants achieved fewer categories, showed more perseverations and spent less time for shifting set. Perfectionism is correlated with set-shifting but in converse directions in the two groups.

Discussion: Our study supports the findings of inefficiencies in set-shifting after full recovery from AN. Higher perfectionism in the recAN group is associated with better set-shifting ability, whereas higher perfectionism in the healthy control group is related to worse set-shifting ability.