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The plasticity of development: How knowledge of epigenetics may advance understanding of eating disorders
Author(s) -
Strober Michael,
Peris Tara,
Steiger Howard
Publication year - 2014
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/eat.22322
Subject(s) - epigenetics , psychopathology , psychology , epigenesis , eating disorders , phenotypic plasticity , phenotype , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , biology , genetics , clinical psychology , dna methylation , gene , gene expression
Objective To depict the processes through which animals and human beings engage their environment in continuously evolving states of conflict and cooperation. Method Descriptive literature review. Results Life history outcomes are more relative than they are absolute. Genetic variations play a crucial role, but heavily influencing behavioral outcomes, psychopathology included, are external cues that epigenetically remodel DNA along experience‐dependent signaling pathways. The result is phenotypes that either optimize adjustment, or constrain it. Discussion Knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms may help shed new light on the origin of maturational phenotypes underlying eating disorders and why adjusting treatments to these realities warrants our attention. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:696–704)