Anorexia nervosa: aetiological theories and treatment methods

Abstract

There is a rapidly developing but confusing body of research on anorexia nervosa. For the non-specialist, trends in research are obscured by a diversity of definitions and variations in the proposed locus of pathology: the individual, the family or the socio-cultural environment. While anorexia is a disorder which particularly needs research from a wide range of perspectives, it is vital that the different trends are frequently reviewed and, in the treatment process, integrated. This review summarizes the most significant developments in research on anorexia, and serves as an overview for clinicians wishing to consult the literature selectivity and in more depth.