Clinical Focus


  • Psychology

Professional Education


  • PhD Training: California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University (2011) CA
  • Fellowship: Stanford University School of Medicine (2013) CA
  • Internship: Creighton University-School of Medicine (2011) NE

All Publications


  • Bariatric Surgery in Children and Adolescents with Cognitive Impairment and/or Developmental Delay: Current Knowledge and Clinical Recommendations. Obesity surgery Matheson, B. E., Colborn, D., Bohon, C. 2019

    Abstract

    Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for children and adolescents with severe obesity. However, outcomes in youth with cognitive impairments and/or developmental delays are understudied. This paper reviewed the literature on bariatric surgery within this population. Fourteen studies published from 1975 to 2019 were identified. The majority (93%) of studies included patients with genetic disorders. Most studies reported no peri-operative complications (69%) and improved health outcomes (79%), with variable weight-loss results (29.2-86.2% excess weight loss). No significant differences were reported for youth with and without cognitive impairment and/or developmental delay in two studies. Limited available data suggest bariatric surgery may promote weight loss and improve health comorbidities for youth, irrespective of cognitive or developmental functioning. Clinical recommendations for working with patients and families are included.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11695-019-04219-2

    View details for PubMedID 31637672

  • Eating Disorders and Body Image Concerns STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH: A GUIDE FOR PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND LEADERS SERVING IN HIGHER EDUCATION Colborn, D., Robinson, A., Roberts, L. W. 2018: 231–48
  • Central coherence in adolescents with bulimia nervosa spectrum eating disorders INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS Darcy, A. M., Fitzpatrick, K. K., Manasse, S. M., Datta, N., Klabunde, M., Colborn, D., Aspen, V., Stiles-Shields, C., Labuschagne, Z., Le Grange, D., Lock, J. 2015; 48 (5): 487-493

    Abstract

    Weak central coherence-a tendency to process details at the expense of the gestalt-has been observed among adults with bulimia nervosa (BN) and is a potential candidate endophenotype for eating disorders (EDs). However, as BN behaviors typically onset during adolescence it is important to assess central coherence in this younger age group to determine whether the findings in adults are likely a result of BN or present earlier in the evolution of the disorder. This study examines whether the detail-oriented and fragmented cognitive inefficiency observed among adults with BN is observable among adolescents with shorter illness duration, relative to healthy controls.The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) was administered to a total of 47 adolescents with DSM5 BN, 42 with purging disorder (PD), and 25 healthy controls (HC). Performance on this measure was compared across the three groups.Those with BN and PD demonstrated significantly worse accuracy scores compared to controls in the copy and delayed recall condition with a moderate effect size. These findings were exacerbated when symptoms of BN increased.Poorer accuracy scores reflect a fragmented and piecemeal strategy that interferes with visual-spatial integration in BN spectrum disorders. This cognitive inefficiency likely contributes to broad difficulties in executive functioning in this population especially in the context of worsening bulimic symptoms. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that poor global integration may constitute a cognitive endophenotype for BN.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/eat.22340

    View details for PubMedID 25146149

  • Set-shifting among adolescents with anorexia nervosa INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS Fitzpatrick, K. K., Darcy, A., Colborn, D., Gudorf, C., Lock, J. 2012; 45 (7): 909-912

    Abstract

    Set-shifting difficulties are documented for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, AN typically onsets in adolescents and it is unclear if set-shifting difficulties are a result of chronic AN or present earlier in its course. This study examined whether adolescents with short duration AN demonstrated set-shifting difficulties compared to healthy controls (HC).Data on set-shifting collected from the Delis-Kaplan executive functioning system and Wisconsin card sort task (WCST) as well as eating psychopathology were collected from 32 adolescent inpatients with AN and compared with those from 22 HCs.There were no differences in set-shifting in adolescents with AN compared to HCs on most measures.The findings suggest that set-shifting difficulties in AN may be a consequence of AN. Future studies should explore set-shifting difficulties in a larger sample of adolescents with the AN to determine if there is sub-set of adolescents with these difficulties and determine any relationship of set-shifting to the development of a chronic from of AN.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/eat.22027

    View details for PubMedID 22692985

  • Set-Shifting Among Adolescents With Bulimic Spectrum Eating Disorders PSYCHOSOMATIC MEDICINE Darcy, A. M., Fitzpatrick, K. K., Colborn, D., Manasse, S., Datta, N., Aspen, V., Shields, C. S., Le Grange, D., Lock, J. 2012; 74 (8): 869-872

    Abstract

    Set-shifting difficulties are observed among adults with bulimia nervosa (BN). This study aimed to assess whether adolescents with BN and BN spectrum eating disorders exhibit set-shifting problems relative to healthy controls.Neurocognitive data from 23 adolescents with BN were compared with those from 31 adolescents with BN-type eating disorder not otherwise specified and 22 healthy controls on various measures of set-shifting (Trail Making Task [shift task], Color-Word Interference, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Brixton Spatial Anticipation Task).No significant differences in set-shifting tasks were found among groups (p >.35), and effect sizes were small (Cohen f < 0.17).Cognitive inflexibility may develop over time because of the eating disorder, although it is possible that there is a subset of individuals in whom early neurocognitive difficulty may result in a longer illness trajectory. Future research should investigate the existence of neurocognitive taxons in larger samples and use longitudinal designs to fully explore biomarkers and illness effects.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00879151.

    View details for DOI 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31826af636

    View details for PubMedID 23001391