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Objective: Inefficiencies in executive functioning (EF), more specifically cognitive flexibility and an overly detailed processing style, are frequently observed in individuals with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and have been identified as potential targets in treatment. Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) is an adjunctive treatment approach specifically designed to have a positive impact on EF. Mainly evaluated in adults, CRT has been criticized for its perceived ineffectiveness in promoting weight restoration or directly reducing eating disorder symptoms., Method: We argue that we need to refocus our conceptual framework for using CRT as an adjunctive treatment and specifically explore its potential benefit in adolescents., Results: Adolescence is a critical window for EF development during which CRT has the potential to have the most impact. While it may not specifically ameliorate eating disorder symptoms and directly improve weight gain, CRT may mitigate the impact of malnutrition on adolescent brain development, reduce attrition rates in treatment, and improve cognitive flexibility and (indirectly) other maintaining factors, thereby improving global functioning., Discussion: More research needs to be done to understand the development of EF in adolescents with AN and how best to employ CRT as an adjunctive treatment to support development and target maintaining factors. The current article broadly reviews findings on executive functioning inefficiencies in adolescents with AN and discusses the purpose and role of CRT in treating AN. Finally, we highlight key critiques of using CRT and pose questions for future research., Public Significance: Treatments targeting executive functioning in adolescents with AN are limited. We need to better understand how CRT can benefit adolescents in treatment. Increasing treatment options, including adjunctive treatments, is necessary to reduce the long-term impact of AN., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Social media use is rapidly expanding in terms of frequency, duration, and the diversity of platforms available. Given evidence for associations between social media use, body image disturbances, and disordered eating it is important to identify potentially harmful aspects of social media use that could serve as intervention targets. This study surveyed two demographically diverse undergraduate student cohorts in 2015 and 2022 to compare patterns in social media use, body image, and disordered eating behaviors between samples, including as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to test the hypothesized moderating role of specific content consumed in the association between social media use and maladaptive outcomes. Participants in 2022 reported greater body image disturbances, more frequent vomiting and laxative use, and more time spent on a greater number of social media accounts, with significantly greater use of image-based platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Moderated regression analyses suggest that type of content consumed, but not the amount of time spent on social media or diversity of platforms utilized, is associated with body image disturbances and disordered eating behaviors after controlling for gender and body mass index. Specifically, exposure to weight loss content was associated with lower body appreciation, greater fears of negative appearance evaluation, and more frequent binge eating. Contrary to initial hypotheses, exposure to body positivity/neutrality content did not have protective effects. Findings suggest that interventions targeting negative consequences of social media use should focus on addressing content consumed, rather than time spent on social media platforms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest/disclosures to report., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic hastened a transition to treatment delivery via telehealth. While barriers still exist, the increased uptake of telehealth has the potential to increase access to mental health treatment for all diagnoses, including eating disorders. Delivery of evidence-based treatment as well as adjunctive treatments, including those that are hard to find in-person, have been modified to virtual format to increase accessibility and allow for continuity of care for adolescents with anorexia nervosa., Method: We describe how to modify and deliver Cognitive Remediation Therapy for youth with anorexia nervosa (CRT-AN) via a telehealth platform. Preliminary and practical guidance for best practice for both group and individual delivery is established., Results: With minimal modifications, CRT-AN can be delivered via telehealth for both individual and group delivery. More disengagement in group delivery was noted; however, overall application of the treatment via a remote platform was observed., Discussion: As more treatment moves to a telehealth format, highlighting how an adjunctive treatment like CRT-AN can combined with other treatments in a telehealth format has the potential to increase research in its implementation and furthermore increase its dissemination., Public Significance: Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (CRT-AN) requires significant manipulation of materials and supplementary human guidance. Suggestions for how to modify CRT-AN for remote delivery via telehealth are provided. Modifications grew out of immediate changes made during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and can be used to inform changes therapists and programs can make to continue to or begin to use CRT-AN in a remote fashion., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose of Review: The goal of this review was to provide an update on the literature examining how voluntary, temporary abstention from eating impacts cognitive function., Recent Findings: We evaluated peer-reviewed articles published between August 2013 and January 2021 that assessed adults, included a measure of cognitive functioning with neutral stimuli, and compared individuals in a fasted state to individuals in a fed state (either within- or between-subject designs). Nineteen articles (21 studies) met inclusion criteria. Sample sizes, fasting methods, and tasks varied across studies. Review of studies indicated that fasting was associated with deficits in cognitive functioning; few studies indicated a benefit in cognitive functioning following a single voluntary fast. The heterogeneity and rarity of available studies limits the conclusions that can be drawn. Several crucial psychosocial and sociodemographic moderators remain unexplored. Recommendations for future work are discussed., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)