Behavioral activation and lack of concern, core symptoms of anorexia nervosa?
OBJECTIVE
The core symptoms of anorexia nervosa have remained points of debate. The goal of this paper is a close study of unexpected and paradoxical symptoms in anorexia nervosa which are described in the literature but which, for the most part, have escaped the attention of investigator.


METHODS
Following a brief examination of psychological influences: developmental psychodynamics issues, psychiatric comorbidity and personality features, as well as the physical consequences of starvation, all of which are considered probable contributors to the pathological process, the symptoms of denial, lack of concern, contentment, liveliness, and overactivity in anorexia nervosa are discussed.


RESULTS
If these symptoms are accepted as specific for anorexia nervosa, their presence suggests that starvation might generate in individuals with a vulnerability for anorexia nervosa a condition of mental and physical activation.


CONCLUSIONS
Areas of research to test this hypothesis, positing starvation-induced arousal or activation as a physiological dysregulation in anorexia nervosa which would powerfully support food avoidance, are discussed.
Casper
R C
RC
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA.
D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010551:Personality; D012649:Self Concept; D013217:Starvation / Q000523:psychology*