Behavioral Neurobiology of Eating Disorders

The intention of this book was to have investigators describe an expert opinion on their field of research and cutting-edge work in their laboratory on the neurobiology and treatment of eating disorders.

This book describes the current state of the art of the neurobiology of eating disorders and provides the latest insights and ideas in the eating disorders field. Important breakthroughs improved our understanding of the etiology of eating disorders. Due to neuropsychological studies we understand better which alterations underlie disturbed cognitive processing in anorexia nervosa and combined with imaging and genetics help to understand the underlying neural circuitry and genetic pathways. A new concept arises that anorexia nervosa is a neurodevelopmental striatocortical disorder. Perhaps the most important aspect of new insights into how symptoms are coded in the brain is that this provides new targets for developing more effective therapies. Because of the critical need to advance treatment, several chapters from pioneers in this field have been included . In summary, based upon the knowledge described in this book the editors hope that people in the eating disorder field get inspired to explore new horizons for therapeutic interventions that are based upon the new insights.