M. Casacchia, C. Mela, E. Chiaravalle - Vol. 6, Marzo 2000, num.1
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
Disturbi dell’alimentazione
Eating disorders
In this review, eating disorders are viewed as belonging to a spectrum of behaviours focusing on eating behaviour and body image. An excessive preoccupation with weight and body image would constitute a predisposing factor, and the development of various full-blown syndromes would depend on the co-existence of socio-cultural, psychological and neurobiological factors; within the latter, particular importance is given to peptide mechanisms involving neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY), beta-endorphin and vasopressin in anorexia nervosa, and PYY, cholecystochinin and beta-endorphin in bulimia. The history, epidemiology, diagnosis, comorbidity, clinical course and outcome, and the various treatments of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are described and assessment scales measuring the entity of such disorders are presented.