50 likes | 165 Views
Eating Disorders. Biomedical explanation Inherited behavioural traits Neurochemical abnormalities in brain systems associated with appetite & eating Structural damage to brain areas associated with eating. psychlotron.org.uk. Biomedical Hypotheses. Genetics EDs should run in families
E N D
Eating Disorders • Biomedical explanation • Inherited behavioural traits • Neurochemical abnormalities in brain systems associated with appetite & eating • Structural damage to brain areas associated with eating psychlotron.org.uk
Biomedical Hypotheses • Genetics • EDs should run in families • Degree of relatedness to ED patient should influence risk of developing EDs in others • Neurochemistry • Should be detectable abnormalities in neurotransmitters/hormones • EDs should respond to drug treatment psychlotron.org.uk
Genetics • EDs tend to run in families • Kaye (1999) - 10% of ED patients have a relative who is also an ED patient • Depression, anxiety, OCD more prevalent in families of ED patients • Difficult to separate effects of genes from effects of shared environment psychlotron.org.uk
Genetics • Holland et al (1984); concordance rates for anorexia: • 55% MZ twins • 7% DZ twins • Reduces confounding effect of shared environment • Suggests genetic contribution but not cause • Small sample; finding not always replicated (e.g. Wade et al, 1998) psychlotron.org.uk
Brain & Neurochemistry • No evidence for structural damage to appetite-related hypothamalic regions • Some evidence for chemical abnormalities • Amenorrhoea may precede onset of ED symptoms • BN may respond to drug treatment (serotoninergic antidepressants) • Difficulty telling cause from effect psychlotron.org.uk