The Genetics of Anorexia Nervosa
Is it the culture of thinness, obsession with dieting or just bad mothering? When it comes to determining the causes of anorexia nervosa, the answer appears to be none of the above. Increasingly, the evidence is pointing to genetics playing an important role in predisposing individuals to anorexia nervosa. Among clinicians and researchers, the notion that genetic factors are important in the development of anorexia nervosa seems uncontested. In this short review, Dr. Cynthia Bulik and colleagues summarize some of the findings in the genetics of anorexia nervosa.
Currently (DSM-IV), to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, a patient must show:
- An inability to maintain normal weight (<85% of what is expected)
- Intense fear of weight gain and/or becoming fat, though underweight
- Obsession with body weight and shape, giving it undue importance in evaluating self-esteem/self-worth
- Amenorrhea (missing 3 or more consecutive periods)
- There are two AN-subtypes: restricting type (AN-R) and