Psychopathological and Neurobiological Overlap Between Anorexia Nervosa and Self-Injurious Behavior: A Narrative Review and Conceptual Hypotheses.

ABSTRACT: Empirical evidence and clinical observations suggest a strong -yet under acknowledged-link between anorexia nervosa (AN) and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI). By reviewing the literature on the psychopathology and neurobiology of AN and NSSI, we shed light on their relationship. Both AN and NSSI are characterized by disturbances in affect regulation, dysregulation of the reward circuitry and the opioid system. By formulating a reward-centered hypothesis, we explain the overlap between AN and NSSI. We propose three approaches understanding the relationship between AN and NSSI, which integrate psychopathology and neurobiology from the perspective of self-destructiveness: (1) a nosographical approach, (2) a research domain (RDoC) approach and (3) a network analysis approach. These

SUBMITTER: Oudijn M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9130491 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature