Childhood-onset anorexia nervosa: Towards identifying a biological substrate

✍ Scribed by Gordon, Isky ;Lask, Bryan ;Bryant-Waugh, Rachel ;Christie, Deborah ;Timimi, Sami

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 58 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199709)22:2<159::aid-eat7>3.0.co;2-e

✦ Synopsis

Objective:

The etiology of anorexia nervosa is not fully understood, but is probably multifactorial, including a biological substrate. the purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible underlying biological substrate.

Method:

Fifteen children and adolescents aged 8-16 years underwent regional cerebral blood blow radioisotope scans. all fulfilled dsm-iv criteria for anorexia nervosa. three of the girls had a follow-up scan when they had regained their lost weight.

Results:

Thirteen of the 15 patients had unilateral temporal lobe hypoperfusion, 8 on the left side and 5 on the right. the abnormality persisted in the 3 girls who had a follow-up scan after weight restoration.

Discussion:

This is the first report of reduced regional cerebral blood flow in childhood-onset anorexia nervosa, and suggests an underlying primary functional abnormality.