ABSTRACT
Comparing mothers' reports of early feeding practices in 18 mothers of anorexics and 25 mothers of normal children by means of a questionnaire, we found that the mothers of anorexics introduced solids earlier and used Schedule rather than Demand feedings more frequently. The mothers of anorexics did not treat patients and control siblings differentially. Our study suggests that differences in early feeding and in infant temperament may be operative in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa.
Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/etiology , Feeding Behavior , Psychology, Child , Adolescent , Anorexia Nervosa/prevention & control , Humans , Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Infant, Newborn , Male , Mothers/psychologyABSTRACT
The authors explored the role of Cyclo [His-Pro] (CHP) in 50 adolescents who fulfilled DSM III diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia. CHP, a relatively new neuro modulator which has a role in inducing satiety, was assayed in serum during routine blood work. CHP levels correlated significantly with weight in restrictor (AN-R) (R = -0.449, P less than 0.05) and bulimic anorexics (AN-B) (R = +0.489, P less than 0.01). There was no significant correlation in normal-weight bulimics (NWB) (R = +0.556, P less than 0.01). It did not correlate with weight in a depressed control group. Longitudinal data on six patients showed a similar relationship between weight, purging and CHP binge/purge activity and/or weight changes of around 2 kilograms correlated with average CHP changes of 42%. Clinical material suggests changes in satiety during CHP changes consistent with a satiety disturbance model of these disorders.
