Review: Taste reactivity deficit in anorexia nervosa
Review: Csaba Szalay, Ildikó Ábrahám, Szilárd Papp, Gábor Takács, Balázs Lukáts Ágnes Gáti, and Zoltán Karádi, (2010). Taste reactivity deficit in anorexia nervosa. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 64: 403–407.
Basis for the research question in past research and theory:
Hypogeusia, the reduced ability to taste, and dysgeusia, the distortion of the sense of taste, mainly involving the sour, bitter and salty tastes, have already been demonstrated in anorexia nervosa patients in literature and have been examined through other experiments. Many of the findings, however, have lacked explanation. The earliest of the studies illustrated a clear ‘carbohydrate-phobia’ in anorexia nervosa patients. Later reports suggested no alteration of sweet taste preference, but a definite dislike of foods rich in fat. This small-scale study is aimed to support and add to the previous studies, as well as serve for a basis for a more comprehensive study in the future.
Research hypotheses:
Because anorexia nervosa is a complex psychiatric disorder posing a rapidly increasing burden on modern society, this research was conducted to clarify perceptual- motivational aspects of gustatory disturbances in the disease. This means that the study aimed to identify desensitation to taste stimuli, and explain the lower pleasure sensations associated with taste among patients with anorexia nervosa. The expected results would support earlier studies, in that they would show no alteration of sweet taste preference, but a definite dislike of foods rich in fat, as well as support ‘carbohydrate phobia’ displays in patients with anorexia nervosa.
Research procedures the authors employed:
In order to test the gustatory responses in patients with anorexia nervosa, a very specific test group was considered. Volunteers with diagnosed cases of restrictive type anorexia nervosa, based on the criteria listed in the DSM-IV Text Revision, were evaluated. Three of these volunteers
Basis for the research question in past research and theory:
Hypogeusia, the reduced ability to taste, and dysgeusia, the distortion of the sense of taste, mainly involving the sour, bitter and salty tastes, have already been demonstrated in anorexia nervosa patients in literature and have been examined through other experiments. Many of the findings, however, have lacked explanation. The earliest of the studies illustrated a clear ‘carbohydrate-phobia’ in anorexia nervosa patients. Later reports suggested no alteration of sweet taste preference, but a definite dislike of foods rich in fat. This small-scale study is aimed to support and add to the previous studies, as well as serve for a basis for a more comprehensive study in the future.
Research hypotheses:
Because anorexia nervosa is a complex psychiatric disorder posing a rapidly increasing burden on modern society, this research was conducted to clarify perceptual- motivational aspects of gustatory disturbances in the disease. This means that the study aimed to identify desensitation to taste stimuli, and explain the lower pleasure sensations associated with taste among patients with anorexia nervosa. The expected results would support earlier studies, in that they would show no alteration of sweet taste preference, but a definite dislike of foods rich in fat, as well as support ‘carbohydrate phobia’ displays in patients with anorexia nervosa.
Research procedures the authors employed:
In order to test the gustatory responses in patients with anorexia nervosa, a very specific test group was considered. Volunteers with diagnosed cases of restrictive type anorexia nervosa, based on the criteria listed in the DSM-IV Text Revision, were evaluated. Three of these volunteers