Motivation to eat and not to eat – The psycho-biological conflict in anorexia nervosa

Publication date: Available online 10 April 2019Source: Physiology & BehaviorAuthor(s): Guido K.W. Frank, Marisa C. DeGuzman, Megan E. ShottAbstractAnorexia nervosa is a severe psychiatric illness with high mortality. Brain imaging research has indicated altered reward circuits in the disorder. Here we propose a disease model for anorexia nervosa, supported by recent studies, that integrates psychological and biological factors. In that model, we propose that there is a conflict between the conscious motivation to restrict food, and a body-homeostasis driven motivation to approach food in response to weight loss. These opposing motivations trigger anxiety, which maintains the vicious cycle of ongoing energy restriction and weight loss.
Source: Physiology and Behavior - Category: Physiology Source Type: research