Korean J Biol Psychiatry.  2013 Sep;20(3):74-79.

New Insights on the Biological and Emotional Pathogenesis of Eating Disorders

• Kim YR

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This paper aims to understand the emotional-biological pathogenesis of eating disorders, and translate the understanding into new brain directed treatments.
METHODS
The first part of the review sets the eating behavior into the context of what is now understood about the central control of appetite and molecular biology. The second part of the review sees how emotion relates to the brain circuit involving eating disorders.
RESULTS
In general, patients with anorexia nervosa restricting type were less sensitive to reward, whereas patients with bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa binge purging type were more sensitive to it. The emotional life of people with eating disorders centers on food, weight, and shape. The abnormalities in social and emotional functioning both precede and persist outside of eating disorders.
CONCLUSIONS
Research into understanding the biological framework of the brain in eating disorders suggests that abnormalities may exist in emotional and information processing. This aspect can be translated into novel brain-directed treatments, particularly in anorexia nervosa.

Keyword

Eating disorders; Anorexia nervosa; Bulimia nervosa; Emotion; Neurobiology; DSM-5

MeSH Terms

Anorexia Nervosa
Appetite
Automatic Data Processing
Brain
Bulimia Nervosa
Feeding and Eating Disorders*
Eating*
Feeding Behavior
Humans
Molecular Biology
Neurobiology
Reward