Explanations of anorexia nervosa

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explanations of anorexia

. The biological explanations of anorexia are interesting but inconclusive. One attempt hasfocused on genetic factors - with ambiguous results. Holland et al. (1988) found thataround 56% of identical (MZ) twins are concordant for thedisorder, compared with 5%for DZ twins; Hsu (1990), after an extensive literature review, found a 47% concordancerate for (DZ) twins and 10% rate for non-identical (DZ) twins. However, the fact thatrelatives of anorexics run a higher risk than the general population of also becominganorexic does not, according to Frude (1998), suggest that a firm genetic link for anorexiacan be inferred. Instead, the shared family environment may account for these findings.MZ twins are often discordant for the condition & genetic explanations offer no practical

possibilities for treatment.

Kaye et al. (1988) suggests that a dysfunctioning hypothalmus may offer a partial

explanation for anorexia. The lateral hypothalamus (LH) produces hunger & the

ventromedial hypothalamus (VH) depresses hunger. The hypothalamus regulates hungersensation and instigates the eating impulse, however, animal studies have shown thatwhen the hypothalamus is in some way damaged, this process is disrupted. One theory isthat a reduction of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine (epinephrine is a synonym ofadrenalin) can