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Perplexities and provocations of eating disorders
Author(s) -
Halmi Katherine A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.01983.x
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , allostasis , bulimia nervosa , psychology , eating disorders , addiction , neuroimaging , clinical psychology , allostatic load , psychiatry , etiology , developmental psychology , neuroscience
Background: Etiological hypotheses of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have not produced informative research for predictably effective treatment. Methods: The rationale for applying a model of allostasis, a dysregulation of reward circuits with activation of brain and hormonal stress responses to maintain apparent stability, is developed for eating disorders. Results: The neurotransmitter systems involved in the allostatic state of a reward system in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa may be similar to those present in drug addiction. Conclusion: The biological vulnerabilities underlying the unique features of eating disorders should be intensively investigated with the advancing techniques in genetics and neuroimaging. Preventing chronicity with early diagnosis and adequate treatment before age 18 is necessary.