Building a model of the aetiology of eating disorders by translating experimental neuroscience into clinical practice

Abstract

Background: Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa is poorly accepted and largely ineffective.

Aim: To develop an explanatory model for the development and maintenance of Eating Disorders which utilizes neuroscience data.

Method: The literature on neurosciences in eating disorders was reviewed and incorporated into a biopsychosocial model.

Results: The system of social functioning mediated by emotional and cognitive information processing is central to this model. This system is vulnerable because of the developmental changes in adolescence.

Conclusions: This model proposes testable hypotheses and also has implications for the development of novel approaches to treatment.

Declaration of interest: Laura Southgate was supported by the Nina Jackson Eating Disorders Research PhD fellowship, in conjunction with the Psychiatry Research Trust (registered charity no. 284286). The Wellcome Trust, Psychiatry Research Trust and BIAL foundation (grant nos. 88/02: 61/04) have supported different neuroscience projects within our research group.

Keywords:

• Eating disorder
• aetiology
• biopsychosocial model
• clinical practice
• neuroscience