1. Examining perseveration in the context of depression and starvation to inform an understanding of cognitive inflexibility
- Author
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Bolton, H. M.
- Subjects
616.89 - Abstract
Volume One of this D.Clin.Psy. thesis is a research project investigating aspects of perseveration in Axis I psychopathology and is comprised of three parts. Part One is a literature review examining the relationship between stuck-inset perseveration and depression. It aims to answer the question of whether a set shifting impairment might be implicated in the maintenance of depression. Part Two is an empirical paper which first outlines the literature relating to set shifting in anorexia nervosa (AN), evaluating the evidence for trait and state explanations of set shifting deficits in AN. Using a non-clinical population exposed to short-term starvation, the study explores the hypothesis that starvation might exacerbate existing tendencies towards rigidity. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings and the limitations are considered alongside the implications for future research and practice. Part Three is a critical appraisal of the research process. It outlines how the area of study came to be selected and includes some personal reflections on the wider research process. In this section some of the limitations of the study are also discussed in greater detail.
- Published
- 2010