New directions in treatment research of anorexia and bulimia nervosa

Although considerable progress has been made in the understanding and treat ment of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, a substantial proportion of people wi th these disorders have a limited response to treatment. Treatment strategi es used in eating disorders have tended to be adopted from therapies that w ere devised to treat other psychiatric illnesses, Recent studies suggest th at eating disorders are independently transmitted familial liabilities with a unique pathophysiology. These new findings raise the possibility that an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of eating disorders will genera te more specific and effective psychotherapies and pharmacologic interventi ons. Biol Psychiatry 1999;45:1285-1292 (C) 1999 Society of Biological Psych iatry.