Causal Mechanism of Anorexia Nervosa

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that anorexia nervosa is a mental disorder that is considered to be one of the most deadly among all psychiatric disorders and is one of the most costly to treat. In reviewing the literature, the writer points out that there are various hypotheses relating to a variety of both environmental and biological causes, but very few that bring together the various elements that seem to consistently be found in this mental disorder. The writer examines the various proposed causes that have been set forth and studied to date in the literature but maintains that, because studies in this field are correlational and usually only look at one possible factor at a time, it is difficult to determine whether this mental disorder has multiple causal mechanisms. The writer discusses that, if consistent patterns can be identified in relation to the development of this mental illness, it may be possible to identify children who are at risk of developing anorexia, successfully treat those who have it, and reverse the trend and, thus, save the lives of many people.

Outline:
The Definition of Anorexia Nervosa
Currently Published Prevalence Rates
Hereditability and Comorbidity
The Effects of the Thin Ideal and the Media
Anorexia with Athletes
Proposed Biological Causes
Personality Correlates of Anorexics
Attachment Patterns and the Development of Anorexia
Parental Dynamics Involved in the Development of Anorexia
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"What is unclear is whether the onset of the comorbid anxiety disorder causes and/or contributes to the onset of the anorexia or vice versa.
"As an aside, facts that are somewhat related to heritability have been consistently found in the behavior of mothers toward their infant daughters who eventually become anorexic. It is unclear whether these patterns of behavior are causally related to the development of anorexia or not, but it should be noted that there are circumstances that may be considered risk factors and should be taken into account when predicting outcomes.
"For example, anorexics are said to have mothers who relied on scheduled feeding patterns when they were babies and introduced solids prematurely into their child's diet."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Agras, S., Hammer, L., & McNicholas, F. (1999). A prospective study of the influence of eating-disordered mothers on their children. International Journal of Eating Disorders 25, 253-262.
• American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
• Armstrong, J. G., & Roth, D. M. (1989). Attachment and separation difficulties in eating disorders: A preliminary investigation. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 8(2), 141-155.
• Chassler, L. (1997). Understanding anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa from an attachment perspective. Clinical Social Work Journal, 25(4), 407-423.
• Dallos, R. (2004). Attachment narrative therapy: Integrating ideas from narrative and attachment theory in systemic family therapy with eating disorders. Journal of Family Therapy, 26, 40-65.

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