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.

METHOD: 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.

DISCUSSION: 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.