title: Toward the understanding of anorexia nervosa as a disease entity.
abstract: Five major areas in the study of anorexia nervosa have been defined: the descriptive area (1868-1914), the pituitary era (1914-1940), the era of rediscovery of the illness (1930-1961), the psychoanalytic era (1940-1967), and the modern era (1961- ). The illness as a biopsychosocial entity has been delineated. An integrated view of the disorder, recognizing multiple factor interaction in a vulnerable person, and an individualized approach to treatment, are proposed.
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors