Autism and anorexia nervosa: Related conditions?

Abstract

Infantile autism, the most severe behavioural disorder of childhood, affects boys much more often than girls. Some of the symptoms of autism are seen in anorexia nervosa, which affects girls much more often than boys. Four families are presented in which a female with anorexia nervosa had a male close relative with infantile autism. Neurobiological background factors are presented. It is suggested that in some families a common (hereditary?) vulnerability in interaction with environmental factors causes anorexia nervosa in girls at puberty and autism in boys in infancy. □ Anorexia nervosa, autism, genetics.