What is it about?
Brain function is different amongst patients with eating disorders. Some differences result from these illnesses and some contribute to development of these illnesses. Both can interfere with treatment. We review how several brain pathways differ in eating disorders: reward, decision-making, and social cognition. We suggest treatment strategies that consider these differences in brain function.
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Why is it important?
Understanding the role of biology in eating disorders may help patients by reducing the shame they associate with this disease, and improving their motivation to pursue recovery. Many of the challenges that people with eating disorders face: difficulty changing habits surrounding food, impaired detection of reward and decision-making, and difficulty establishing stable relationships may be related neurobiological factors in these diseases. Relating this knowledge to patients, their families, and clinicians provides a tool that can challenge maladaptive cognitions that interfere with recovery.
Perspectives
As a neuroscientist and psychiatrist, my clinical work has always included substantial psychological education on the biological basis of both the disease and the treatments I recommend. Providing this information to patients helps them develop appropriate expectations for what treatment can be expected to accomplish and what it may not accomplish; this is critical to maintain motivation for recovery in patients with eating disorders. This article was written to facilitate dissemination of this information to patients, family members of patients, and clinicians.
Dr Carrie J McAdams
University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Neural correlates of eating disorders: translational potential, Neuroscience and Neuroeconomics, September 2015, Dove Medical Press,
DOI: 10.2147/nan.s76699.
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