Book description
Why is the brain important in eating disorders? This ground-breaking
new book describes how increasingly sophisticated neuroscientific
approaches are revealing much about the role of the brain in eating
disorders. Even more importantly, it discusses how underlying brain
abnormalities and dysfunction may contribute to the development and help
in the treatment of these serious disorders.
- Neuropsychological studies show impairments in specific cognitive
functions, especially executive and visuo-spatial skills.
- Neuroimaging studies show structural and functional abnormalities,
including cortical atrophy and neural circuit abnormalities, the
latter appearing to be playing a major part in the development of
anorexia nervosa.
- Neurochemistry studies show dysregulation within neurotransmitter
systems, with effects upon the modulation of feeding, mood, anxiety,
neuroendocrine control, metabolic rate, sympathetic tone and temperature.
The first chapter, by an eating disorders clinician, explains the
importance of a neuroscience perspective for clinicians. This is
followed by an overview of the common eating disorders, then chapters
on what we know of them from studies of neuroimaging, neuropsychology
and neurochemistry. The mysterious phenomenon of body image
disturbance is then described and explained from a neuroscience
perspective. The next two chapters focus on neuroscience models of
eating disorders, the first offering an overview and the second a new
and comprehensive explanatory model of anorexia nervosa. The following
two chapters offer a clinical perspective, with attention on the
implications of a neuroscience perspective for patients and their
families, the second providing details of clinical applications of
neuroscience understanding. The final chapter looks to the future.
This book succinctly reviews current knowledge about all these
aspects of eating disorder neuroscience and explores the implications
for treatment. It will be of great interest to all clinicians
(psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, dieticians, paediatricians,
physicians, physiotherapists) working in eating disorders, as well as
to neuroscience researchers.
Bryan Lask FRCPsych, FAED, M. Phil, MB,. BS
Hon Consultant and Emeritus Professor of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK;
Research Director, Ellern Mede Service for Eating Disorders, London,
UK; Visiting Professor, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
Ian Frampton BA(Hons) D. Clin. Psych. Dip. Clin. Neuropsych. C
Psychol.
Hon Consultant Psychologist, Great Ormond Street
Hospital for Children, London, UK; Visiting Research Consultant,
Regional Eating Disorders Service, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
