Essay on Biochemical Correlates of Anorexia and Bulimia

Biochemical Correlates of Anorexia and Bulimia Millions of people in the United States suffer from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is a dangerous eating disorder characterized by distorted body image, obsession with food and weight, drastic reduction in food intake often to the point of starvation, and extreme weight loss (1). Bulimia nervosa is a somewhat similar eating disorder more specifically characterized by recurring episodes of uncontrollable binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives or diuretics (2). The vast majority - more than 90 percent - of those afflicted with eating disorders are adolescent and young adult women (1). This has led to the popular belief that eating†¦show more content†¦In fact, drugs which act on serotonin pathways in the brain are commonly used for the short-term management of obesity. Fenfluramine, one of the two drugs which make up the controversial diet pill Fen-Phen, is an example of one such drug. Fenfluramine, along with dexfenfluramine (a similar, purified version of fenfluramine), acts by increasing serotonin activity in the brain, thus suppressing appetite and facilitating weight loss (5). It has been suggested that food restriction and several other behaviors which are characteristic of anorexia may be associated with increased serotonin activity (4). Conversely, it has been shown that decreased serotonin activity in the brain is associated with enhanced appetite, and thus may be related to bulimia (4). Researchers working in conjunction with Harvard Medical School have demonstrated a link between bulimia and impaired serotonergic responsiveness in the brain. The study compared serotonergic activity and the presence of several behavioral symptoms of bulimia among bulimic and healthy women. Serotonergic responsiveness was assessed by measuring the activity of the pathway following administration of a serotonin agonist. It was found that the women with bulimia showed significantly less serotonergic activity following administration of the agonist than did the healthy women. In other words, the agonist did not have as great an effect on serotonin activity in bulimicShow MoreRelatedOvercoming Anorexia Nervosa2103 Words   |  9 Pagesdiscuss the etiology, effects, and criteria needed for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa from a biops ychosocial approach. In addition, this paper will discuss the treatments, approaches and multicultural issues associated with this multifaceted disorder. It will conclude with a discussion surrounding my research and understanding of anorexia nervosa in the field of abnormal psychology. Overview of Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is a complex psychiatric illness characterized by distorted eatingRead MoreCan Medication Cure Kleptomania?3293 Words   |  14 Pagesstored away or thrown out. The real, painful reasons of Kleptomania are usually hidden deep in subconsciousness, and are often formed early on in childhood. Hereditary predisposition plays an important role. Kleptomania correlates with disorders such as depression, anorexia, bulimia, social phobias, and anxiety. Kleptomania was first recognized as a mental disorder in the 1960’s in the United States during the judicial proceedings in the matter of California vs. Douglas Jones, in which Jones proved