Biology and Pharmacotherapy in Eating Disorders.
- Author:
Soo Churl CHO
1
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Special Article
- Keywords:
Anorexia nervosa;
Bulimia nervosa;
biology;
pharmacctherapy
- MeSH:
Anorexia Nervosa;
Appetite;
Biology*;
Bulimia;
Bulimia Nervosa;
Disulfiram;
Diuretics;
Drug Therapy*;
Feeding and Eating Disorders*;
Eating*;
Fasting;
Feeding Behavior;
Humans;
Ideal Body Weight;
Laxatives;
Mood Disorders;
Neurosecretory Systems;
Neurotransmitter Agents;
Physiology;
Prevalence
- From:Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology
1997;8(1):3-22
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia and other related eating disorders are a heterogenous group of psychiatric disorders whose prevalence rates reach 0.5-1.0% for anorexia nervosa and 1.0-3.0% for bulinmia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight and bulimia is characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating, misuse of laxatives. diuretics or other medications ; fasting and excessive exercise. A disturbance in perception of body shape and weight is an essential feature of both disorders. Patients with eating disorders may have numerous medical, hypothalamic endocrine, metabolic and nutritional abnormalities. There have been several conceptual models to explain the etiology of eating disorders These are socio-cultural, family pathological, individual psychodynamic, developmental psychobiologiccl, primary hypothalamic dysfunctional, cognitive-behavioral and affective disorder theories. Among these thoeries, this paper attempts to review the biological theory and pharmacotherapy in eating disorders. Specifically, this review deals with physiology of eating behavior, neurotransmitter regulation of appetite and eating bvehavior, disturbances in brcin neurotransmitter system, neuroendocrine findings in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. and finally pharmacotherapy. Based on this review, future directions for research are also sutggested.
