title: Towards a physiologically based diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
abstract: Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), while including such physiological data as weight and the reproductive status of the individual, are primarily based on questionnaires and interviews that rely on self-report of both body-related concerns and eating-related behaviors. While some key components of eating disorders are psychological and thus introspective in nature, reliance on self-report for the assessment of eating-related behaviors and nutritional status lacks the objectivity that a physiologically based measure could provide. The development of a more physiologically informed diagnosis for AN and BN would provide a more objective means of diagnosing these disorders, provide a sound physiological basis for diagnosing subclinical disorders and could also aid in monitoring the effectiveness of treatments for these disorders. Empirically supported, physiologically based methods for diagnosing AN and BN are reviewed herein as well as promising physiological measures that may potentially be used in the diagnosis of AN and BN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. khatch@byu.edu
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Spangler
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Backus
authors.forename: Jonathan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Balagna
authors.forename: Keven S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Brooke S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lindblad
authors.forename: Beverly L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Roeder
authors.forename: Natalie E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Ryther
authors.forename: Max A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Seawright
authors.forename: Jaymie N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Tyau
authors.forename: Dustin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001828:Body Image; D015519:Bone Density; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D005947:Glucose