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Chronicity in anorexia nervosa: Pregnancy and birth complications as risk factors
Author(s) -
Bakan Rita,
Birmingham C. Laird,
Goldner Elliot M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(199111)10:6<631::aid-eat2260100603>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , neuropathology , neurochemical , psychology , anorexia , psychiatry , eating disorders , medicine , neuroscience , disease
The chronic form of anorexia nervosa (AN) affects about one‐quarter of patients and has serious somatic and psychological consequences. This paper presents evidence in support of the hypothesis that pregnancy and birth complications (PBCs) associated with neuropathology may be risk factors for chronic anorexia nervosa. There is increasing evidence that PBCs are risk factors for other psychiatric and somatic disorders. Recent findings of possible premorbid neuropathology in patients with anorexia nervosa suggest that PBCs may be risk factors for chronicity in anorexia nervosa. Topics discussed include the origins of constitutional vulnerability to anorexia nervosa, correlates of PBCs and of chronic anorexia nervosa, the relationship of PBCs to neurological and neurochemical abnormalities, chronicity of anorexia nervosa in relation to PBCs and to neurological and neurochemical abnormalities, and the research implications of the hypothesis that PBCs and associated neuropathology are risk factors for chronicity in anorexia nervosa.