Biological Explanations of Anorexia Nervosa

Question 1

Whats anorexia?

Answer 1

Mental disorder generally characterised as excessive phobia of gaining weight

Question 2

In terms of neural explanations, what has been proposed?

Answer 2

• Disturbances in serotonin
• Bailer investigated S levels in women recovering from RT anorexia and BP, finding higher S levels in BP sufferers than healthy women
• Also found in patients with highest anxiety

Question 3

In what way might dopamine be associated?

Answer 3

• Alters the way we interpret rewards
• Diff to associate good feelings with food
• PET scan: dopamine overactivity in AN sufferers