In a retrospective study of case notes a number of experiential and psychological factors were discerned of possible importance to the psychogenesis of anorexia nervosa. These factors included issues of dependence and independence, sexual challenge, concern about obesity, and a variety of other, less specific stresses.
Attempts to confirm the findings by means of a prospective study were impeded by difficulties in defining the onset of the illness. While in some patients the occurrence of anorexic type behaviour led immediately to weight loss, in others there was a significant delay between the onset of behavioural change and consequent emaciation.
References
1.
BeumontP. J. V.GeorgeG. C. W.SmartDaphne E. (1976). ‘Dieters’ and ‘vomiters and purgers’ in anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine6, 617.
2.
BeumontP. J. V.GeorgeG. C. W.SmartDaphne E. (1975). Psychological predisposing and precipitating factors in anorexia nervosa. Paper read at the Congress of the Medical Association of South Africa Johannesburg, July 1975. Published in Abstract form in the Proceedings of the Conference.
3.
BruchH. (1974). Eating Disorders.Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.
4.
KaufmanM. R.HeimanM., (eds.) (1964). Evolution of Psychosomatic Concepts. Anorexia Nervosa: A Paradigm.International Universities Press, New York.
5.
RussellG. F. M. (1970). Anorexia nervosa: its identity as an illness and its treatment in Modern Trends in Psychological Medicine (ed. PriceJ. H.), pp. 131–164. Butterworths, London.
6.
SelviniP. (1965). Interpretation of mental anorexia, in Anorexia Nervosa (ed. MeyerJ. E.FeldmannH.), pp. 96–103. Thieme, Stuttgart.
7.
Society of Actuaries (1959), Build and Blood Pressure StudyVol. 1Society of Actuaries, Chicago.
