O paradigma go/nogo na obesidade de grau III

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity literature reveals the need to examine specific response inhibition skills through a single neuropsychological paradigm amongst different weight categories. The relationship between psychopathology and inhibitory performance in obesity remains unclear. In this study, we address these issues. Method: We recruited 25 female Bariatric surgery candidates with Grade III obesity and a normal weight control group matched for age, gender, and years of education. We submitted both groups to a Go/NoGo task with neutral stimuli to compare their efficiency and efficacy in restraining prepotent motor responses. Participants also completed self reported measures of anxiety, depression, and binge eating. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in reaction times, IISDRT, and commission errors. Even though the obese group shows higher levels of depressive and binge eating symptomology than the control group, we did not find any significant association between psychopathological symptoms and inhibitory performance. Conclusion: The current sample of female Bariatric surgery candidates with Grade III obesity did not reveal deficits in an essential inhibitory process to food intake control. Our results support the notion that there isn’t a general response inhibition problem in the obese. The absence of an association between anxiety, depression, and binge eating symptoms with inhibitory performance in obesity calls for further research. This study seeks to improve the knowledge about the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying this clinical condition and to contribute to the development of prevention and intervention strategies tailored to each patient.

Date of Award	28 Nov 2018
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Vânia Silva Nunes (Supervisor) & Olga Ribeiro (Co-Supervisor)