1. Anorexia nervosa
By Mr Daniel Hansson

2. Anorexia nervosa
Symptoms
Prevalence
Etiology
Evaluation
Conclusion

3. Symptoms (DSM-IV-TR)
Behavioural symptoms: Will not maintain normal weight for their age and height, 85 % of an appropriate weight
Emotional symptoms: Extremely fearful of gaining weight or being fat, even the person is already underweight
Cognitive symptoms: Has a distorted view of body shape and weight
Somatic symptoms: A female that misses three menstrual cycles in a row

4. Prevalence Lifetime prevalence of Anorexia nervosa in females is 0.5%
10 times more likely in females than in males
Onset age is usually between ages 14-18
More common in western societies but is increasing in eastern societies because of globalization

5. Etiology
Biological
Cognitive
Sociocultural

6. Biological
Genes
Appetite and weight regulation imbalance in hypothalamus (e.g. the hormone Leptin)
Neurotransmitters, e.g. serotonin
E.g. Mazzeo & Bulik (2009)

7. Cognitive
Attentional biases and cognitive styles that distort reality/body image
E.g. Southgate et al. (2008)

8. Sociocultural Media exposure, social learning
E.g. Becker et al. (1995)

9. Evaluation +Can be used for therapy +Supporting research
-Methodological problems with research
-Simplistic: Each perspective emphasizes one factor

10. Conclusion
An interactionistic explanation of anorexia nervosa is preferable, e.g. the diathesis-stress model or the biopsychosocial model