Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Anorexia”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Plasma growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon responses to arginine infusion in children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature, isolated growth hormone deficiency, panhypopituitarism, and anorexia nervosa.

The effects of intravenous infusion of arginine (20 g/m2) after an overnight fast on plasma immunoreactive growth hormone (GH), insulin (IRI), and glucagon (IRG), and blood glucose were examined in five groups of children and adolescents: 10 normal individuals, 18 with idiopathic short stature, 6 with isolated growth hormone deficiency, 8 with panhypopituitarism, and 6 with anorexia nervosa. The mean fasting plasma GH concentration was significantly elevated in the group with anorexia nervosa (P less than 0.05), and similar to the value for the normal group in all other groups. After arginine infusion, four- to sixfold increases of plasma GH were observed in the normal children, and similar increases were seen in those with idiopathic short stature as well as in those with anorexia nervosa; whereas, in the children with isolated growth hormone deficiency or panhypopituitarism, there was no significant increase in plasma GH. Fasting blood glucose concentrations were significantly lower than normal in subjects with isolated growth hormone deficiency (P less than 0.05), panhypopituitarism (P less than 0.001), and anorexia nervosa (P less than 0.001), whereas fasting plasma IRI and IRG concentrations were similar to the values in the normal group. Plasma IRI increased eightfold at the end of the 30-min arginine infusion in the normal subjects; the increase was slightly but not significantly less in those with idiopathic short stature, and significantly less in those with isolated growth hormone deficiency (P less than 0.05), panhypopituitarism (P less than 0.001), and anorexia nervosa (P less than 0.05). Arginine infusion resulted in two- to threefold increases of plasma IRG in the normal group, and similar increases were observed in all of the other groups tested. These results suggest that whereas pancreatic beta cell responsiveness may be deficient in children and adolescents with isolated growth hormone deficiency, panhypopituitarism, or anorexia nervosa, pancreatic alpha cell responsiveness, to arginine at least, appears to be intact under these conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Reversal of cancer anorexia by blockade of central melanocortin receptors in rats.

Anorexia is a debilitating manifestation of many malignancies. The etiology of cancer anorexia is poorly understood, and effective treatment options are limited. To investigate the role of central melanocortin receptor signaling in the pathogenesis of cancer anorexia, we assessed the effects on food intake of the melanocortin receptor antagonist SHU9119 administered into the third cerebral ventricle of Lobund-Wistar rats that were anorexic from prostate cancer. In anorexic tumor-bearing rats, daily treatment with SHU9119 (0.35 nmol, intracerebroventricularly) increased food intake from 71 +/- 3% to 110 +/- 6% of preanorectic baseline and caused significant weight gain (13 +/- 5 vs. 5 +/- 1 g/3 d, SHU9119 vs. baseline in tumor-bearing rats). In control rats pair-fed to the intake of tumor-bearing animals, SHU9119 was ineffective at increasing food intake. The specificity of the SHU9119 feeding response was assessed using two other orexigenic peptides, NPY and the novel hormone ghrelin. Treatment of tumor-bearing rats with intracerebroventricular ghrelin (10 microg) increased food intake, but the effect was blunted relative to that in controls. Intracerebroventricular injections of NPY (1 microg) also failed to reverse anorexia in tumor-bearing rats. Because SHU9119 completely reverses cancer anorexia in this model, whereas ghrelin and NPY do not, increased central nervous system melanocortin signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of this disorder. This suggests that new targets for the treatment of cancer anorexia may be found in the melanocortin pathways.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Effect of cholinergic muscarinic receptor blockade on human growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-(1-44)-induced GH secretion in anorexia nervosa.

The presence of hypothalamic disturbances affecting GH secretion in anorexia nervosa has been suggested, although a normal GH response to GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) administration has been shown in these patients. The present study was performed to investigate the role of acetylcholine in regulating GH secretion by using pirenzepine, which selectively blocks muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Paired tests were performed in nine anorexia nervosa patients (age +/- SEM, 19.1 +/- 1.2 yr; percent ideal body weight, -32.7 +/- 2.2%) and in six normal controls (20.1 +/- 0.3 yr; -3.1 +/- 1.8%). GHRH-(1-44) (1 microgram/kg) was infused iv with and without pirenzepine pretreatment (0.6 mg/kg, iv). Basal levels of GH were not different in anorexia nervosa compared to normal controls, whereas, somatomedin-C levels were significantly lower in anorexia nervosa patients. However, after pirenzepine administration, the GHRH-stimulated GH responses were completely blocked in normal controls, but not in anorexia nervosa patients. These results suggested that altered muscarinic cholinergic mechanism are involved in the modulation of GH secretion in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Serum leptin levels in women with anorexia nervosa.

Leptin is a protein encoded by the ob gene that is expressed in adipocytes and regulates eating behavior via central neuroendocrine mechanisms. Serum leptin levels have been shown to correlate with weight and percent body fat in normal and obese individuals; however, it is not known whether the regulation of leptin is normal below a critical threshold of body fat in chronic undernutrition. We investigated serum leptin levels in 22 women, aged 23 +/- 4 yr, with anorexia nervosa. Duration of disease, weight, BMI, percent body fat, and serum leptin levels were determined for each patient. Nutritional status was assessed further by caloric intake and measurement of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels. Twenty-three healthy women, aged 23 +/- 4 yr, taking no medications, with normal menstrual function and body mass index (BMI) between 20-26 kg/m2 (mean, 23.7 +/- 1.7 kg/m2), served as a control population for comparison of leptin levels. Subjects with anorexia nervosa were low weight (BMI, 16.3 +/- 1.6 kg/m2; normal, 20-26 kg/m2) and exhibited a striking reduction in percent body fat (7 +/- 2%; normal, 20-30%). The mean serum leptin level was significantly decreased in subjects with anorexia nervosa compared with that in age- and sex-matched controls of normal body weight (5.6 +/- 3.7 vs. 19.1 +/- 8.1 ng/mL; P < 0.0001). Serum leptin levels were correlated highly with weight, as expressed either BMI (r = 0.66; P = 0.002) or percent ideal body weight (r = 0.68; P = 0.0005), body fat (r = 0.70; P = 0.0003), and IGF-I (r = 0.64; P = 0.001), but not with caloric intake or serum levels of estradiol or insulin in subjects with anorexia nervosa. The correlation between leptin and body fat was linear, with progressively lower, but detectable, leptin levels measured even in patients with less than 5% body fat, but was not significant when the effects of weight were taken into account. In contrast, the correlation between leptin and IGF-I remained significant when the effects of weight, body fat, and caloric intake were taken into account. In normal controls, leptin correlated with BMI (r = 0.55; P = 0.007) and IGF-I (r = 0.44; P < 0.05), but not with fat mass. These data demonstrate that serum leptin levels are reduced in association with low weight and percent body fat in subjects with anorexia nervosa compared to normal controls. Leptin levels correlate highly with weight, percent body fat, and IGF-I in subjects with anorexia nervosa, suggesting that the physiological regulation of leptin is maintained in relation to nutritional status even at an extreme of low weight and body fat.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1989

Enhanced circadian rhythm of melatonin in anorexia nervosa.

Plasma melatonin circadian profiles were investigated in a group of 4 patients with anorexia nervosa and 4 healthy regularly cycling women. There were no differences in the mean age of both groups, whereas the anorexia nervosa patients had lower mean body weight (37.8 +/- 2.0 vs 57.0 +/- 4.9 kg) and body mass index (13.9 +/- 1.1 vs 20.8 +/- 2.0). Samples were collected every 2 h and plasma melatonin was measured by using a RIA with an iodinated tracer. Anorexia nervosa patients exhibited higher diurnal (60.7 +/- 1.8 vs 25.4 +/- 1.72 pmol/l, P less than 0.02) and nocturnal (419.2 +/- 37.4 vs 108.0 +/- 33.6 pmol/l), P less than 0.001) mean plasma melatonin concentrations. There were no differences in the time peak for nocturnal melatonin secretion in both groups, detected at 02.00 h. In anorexia nervosa, the melatonin circadian profile paralleled that observed in the control group, indicating that the increased melatonin values for anorexia nervosa were probably due to an enhanced secretory pineal function rather than an impaired melatonin metabolism. These results suggest a participation of the pineal gland in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Bone mineral density in bulimic women--influence of endocrine factors and previous anorexia.

OBJECTIVE: Data concerning bone mineral density (BMD) in bulimia nervosa are contradictory and include both low and normal values. The aim of the present study was to elucidate possible endocrine-and nutrition-related factors predicting BMD in bulimic women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Seventy-seven bulimic patients and 56 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls were examined with respect to BMD (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and to serum levels of hormones and metabolic factors. RESULTS: Bulimics had significantly lower spinal BMD and higher frequency of osteopenia in the total body than controls. Furthermore, bulimic women had significantly lower levels of estradiol-17beta and free thyroxine and significantly higher cortisol levels compared with controls. Among the bulimics, 31.2% had present menstrual disturbance, 51.9% had a history of amenorrhea and 23.4% had previous anorexia nervosa. Subgroups of bulimics with a history of amenorrhea and previous anorexia nervosa had significantly lower total and spinal BMD than controls, whereas those without such history did not differ from the controls. In univariate analysis, a history of amenorrhea, cortisol, testosterone, previous anorexia nervosa, and BMI showed significant associations with spinal BMD. Multiple regression analysis including all significant variables revealed previous anorexia nervosa to be the strongest determinant of spinal BMD, accounting for 34% of the variance, while associations between endocrine factors and BMI disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Low bone mass in bulimics may be explained by previous anorexia nervosa, whereas endocrine variables related to BMD seem to be secondary determinants that are dependent on previous anorexia nervosa and BMI.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1998

Is anorexia nervosa associated with elevated rates of suicide?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether individuals with anorexia nervosa are more likely to commit suicide, as suggested by previously noted associations between anorexia nervosa and mood disorders. METHODS: Data from death records representing over 5 million women were examined, yielding 571 cases in which anorexia nervosa was mentioned as an existing condition. The women with anorexia were compared with 1713 control subjects matched for age, sex, and race. RESULTS: The percentage of suicides among those listed as having anorexia nervosa was only 1.4%, compared with 4.1% for the controls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the suicide rate is not elevated among individuals currently suffering from anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia Nervosa↗
PubMed2003

Osteoporosis in anorexia nervosa: a brittle future?

Anorexia nervosa commonly occurs during adolescence, a critical period for the acquisition of peak bone mass. Osteopenia is an early and serious complication associated with anorexia nervosa. Whether the osteopenia observed in adolescents with anorexia nervosa is reversible is unknown. The possible mechanisms for the osteopenia observed in adolescents with anorexia nervosa are complex and poorly understood. The purpose of this paper is to review a number of the identified factors that influence the attainment of peak bone mass in anorexia nervosa and to examine the best treatment options for optimizing skeletal mineralization in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cutaneous manifestations in anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder among adolescent girls and young women which, though common, often goes undetected and untreated. Anorexia nervosa is a response for young people with psychological conflicts who try to win love by having a body corresponding to the present-day image, symbolising strength, beauty, attraction, power and success. Anorexia nervosa involves inadequate calorie intake leading to marked cachexia with metabolic and endocrinological disturbances. We investigated dermatological changes in 21 young female anorectics aged 19-24 in an attempt to find dermatological markers which mirror the dynamics of the disease and thus obtain helpful signs for early diagnosis with its important bearing on the outcome. Extensive histories were taken and whole-body examinations performed. Seven sex- and age-matched persons served as a control group. The most common dermatological findings were xerosis (71%, controls 29%), cheilitis (76%), bodily hypertrichosis (62%), alopecia (24%), dry scalp hair (48%), acral coldness (38%), acrocyanosis (33%), periungual erythema (48%), gingival changes (37%), nail changes (29%) and calluses on dorsum of hand due to self-induced vomiting (67%). Our study documented for the first time that a body mass index of < or = 16 (kg/m2) can be considered a critical value at which skin changes are more frequent. There are remarkable similarities between cutaneous manifestations in anorexia nervosa and in HIV infection. Patients with anorexia nervosa develop early stereotype skin changes which are cardinal diagnostic symptoms and pointers to the diagnosis of eating disorders. During training at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Solothurn one of us (C. H.) was once more able to observe most of the above-described cutaneous and mucocutaneous changes in anorexic adolescents. This paper is intended to stimulate further basic research on this topic. We hope our study will facilitate early diagnosis of anorexia nervosa by the family physician and enable him or her to institute immediate treatment for the eating disorder and thereby improve the prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Testosterone and SHBG levels in blood serum in women with anorexia nervosa].

The reports concerning serum levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone in women with anorexia nervosa are controversial and few in number. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of FSH, LH, PRL, unbound and bound testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, free T4, TSH in women with anorexia nervosa. The TFI (testosterone free index) used to assess SHBG ability to bind testosterone was also calculated. The studied group consisted of 29 women with anorexia nervosa: 15 women untreated hormonally and 14 women treated with estrogens and progestagens. The control group consisted of 13 women with regular menstrual cycle being in the first phase of menstrual cycle, with proper body weight and mean age comparable to the patients with anorexia nervosa. No statistically significant differences between studied groups concerning the serum concentration of FSH, LH, PRL, free testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, TSH and free T4 were found. The total testosterone concentration was statistically significantly lower in the group without hormonal therapy, contrary to SHBG concentration, which was higher in the group treated hormonally. Although there are reports about elevated SHBG and free testosterone levels in patients with anorexia nervosa, our study has shown no significant differences between women with untreated hormonally anorexia nervosa and healthy control group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Masculine anorexia nervosa: realities and perspectives].

Since its description by Morton in 1694, masculine anorexia nervosa has been the subject of much debate. For many, two questions remain unanswered: does anorexia nervosa, as described in girls, exist in boys? - if so, is it the same disease? We analyzed the data in the literature which demonstrate a lower incidence than in the female population, although estimates are probable low due to underdiagnosis. The behavioral aspects suggest a similarity between masculine and feminine anorexia nervosa although the pure restrictive forms of anorexia are more rare in boys. There are however a few differences. Affected boys, according to Crips and Burns (1990), are heavier than girls at onset of the disorder but present a lower body weight during certain periods of the disease. Excessive physical activity is more frequent as is excessive intellectual involvement (Margo, 1987). The problem of amenorrhea, on/off periods, is not present in the male form. Testosterone and sexual function decline gradually, in parallel with the state of malnutrition (Anersen, 1990). The patient does not have particular difficulty discussing sexual relations but does exhibit a poor level of experience and mental representations. Contact with the opposite sex is rare and the fantastic life is generally very limited. The frequency of homosexual behavior would lie between 25% (Herzog, 1984) and 58% (Schneider and Agras, 1987), which is higher than in the female anorexia population (Herzog, 1984). This observation raises the question concerning the relationship between masculine mental anorexia nervosa and fragile sexual identity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Hematologic and metabolic abnormalities in a patient with anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is a common problem in young adults that may present with a variety of metabolic and hematologic abnormalities, as well as weight loss and psychological disturbances. We present a young man with a long history of anorexia nervosa who developed pancytopenia associated with decreased bone marrow cellularity and abnormal architecture and marrow infiltration with an amorphous, gelatinous substance characteristic of anorexia nervosa. The patient also developed osteopenia with evidence of excessive calcium excretion. The pancytopenia and marrow function reverted to normal with therapeutic and dietary intervention. The effects of eating disorders can result in serious consequences with respect to an individual's health and well-being. A host of hematologic abnormalities that are associated with anorexia nervosa have the potential of increasing the risk of infection and bleeding. Additionally, because of the insidious development of anemia in some patients, decreased performance status and chronic fatigue can pose significant compromises in one's daily activities and work effort. Anorexia nervosa is a chronic illness that is distinctly more common in females than in males (ratio of 10 to 1), but can affect males in an equally debilitating manner, requiring multiple modalities of therapeutic intervention and consultation. We present the case of a male referred to the hematology department because of pancytopenia, chronic fatigue, and back pain. A diagnosis of anorexia nervosa had been made 10 years prior at the age of 18 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A preliminary investigation of the lifetime prevalence of anorexia and bulimia nervosa in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is currently classified as an anxiety disorder although it possesses many characteristics that distinguish it from other anxiety disorders. Clinically and neurobiologically, OCD appears to overlap somewhat with the eating disorders. METHOD: To assess in a controlled fashion the lifetime prevalence of the eating disorders in patients with OCD, we administered portions of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R, Patient Version (SCID-P), to 62 patients (31 men, 31 women) with a primary DSM-III-R diagnosis of OCD. RESULTS: Among the OCD patients, the lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa was 12.9% (N = 8), and an additional 17.7% (N = 11) met subthreshold criteria for either anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Interestingly, unlike multiple epidemiologic studies that have reported a substantial female preponderance among patients diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia nervosa, there was no significant gender difference in the lifetime prevalence of eating disorders among the patients with OCD. Almost 13% (N = 4) of the men and 6.5% (N = 2) of the women with OCD met criteria for a lifetime diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and 3.2% (N = 1) of the men and 6.5% (N = 2) of the women with OCD met criteria at some time in their lives for bulimia nervosa. In addition, subthreshold criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa were met by an additional 12.9% (N = 4) of the men and 22.6% (N = 7) of the women. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that OCD patients, regardless of gender, have a substantial lifetime prevalence of anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Depression syndromes in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa].

AIM: The purpose of the study was the estimation of comorbidity of depressive syndromes and anorexia nervosa (based on criteria of ICD-10 and DSM-IV). A group of 30 children (average age--13.5), 27 girls and 3 boys suffering from a first episode of anorexia nervosa was considered. METHOD: Anamnesis from patients and their parents, clinical observation, the psychiatric investigation with use of The Depression Rating Scale for Children (Elva o. Poznański and comp.) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: The comorbidity of depressive syndromes and anorexia nervosa was frequently observed. 73.3% children suffered from depressive syndromes in the course of anorexia nervosa. As for intensity--in 33% it was moderate, in 20%--severe, and in 20%--mild depression. In the investigated group of children depressive syndromes appeared in the bulimic subtype of anorexia nervosa in 88.8% cases and in the restricting subtype in 72.2%. Statistically, in the considered group, the depression was significantly frequent in the first and the second degree relatives. CONCLUSIONS: In the examined group, the number of biological as well as psychological events which could predispose to depression was found. However, the children were not suffering from depression until they were sick from anorexia nervosa and their bodies were not cachectic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Bulimic disorders in anorexia nervosa].

As many as 108 patients with anorexia nervosa were examined. Of these, 83 patients manifested bulimic symptomatology. In all the examined patients, the formation of bulimic symptomatology was preceded by the typical dynamics of the syndrome of anorexia nervosa in the form of the stage of dysmorphophobia-dysmorphomania, of the stage of looks correction with the aid of different methods of weight reduction, and of the stage of an appreciable body weight decrease with marked secondary ++somato-endocrine abnormalities up to cachexia. Three types of bulimic disorders associated with anorexia nervosa were distinguished: bulimia as a symptom of anorexia nervosa, bulimia s a stage of anorexia nervosa, and the bulimic variety of anorexia nervosa. Each of these types of pathology is depicted clinically.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Characteristics of families of patients with anorexia nervosa (psychocorrective measures)].

The paper is concerned with an examination of the families of patients suffering from anorexia nervosa and the role they play in rehabilitation and resocialization of patients. 103 families (103 patients and 268 persons from their family environment) were examined. 65 patients suffered from anorexia nervosa of schizophrenic etiology and 38 from anorexia nervosa as a borderline disease. Among blood relatives of patients with schizophrenia, there predominated subjects with pathology of schizophrenic nature and those with schizoid disorders. The relatives of patients with borderline disease mostly had diverse anomalies of the character, largely hysteric accentuation. The common traits characteristic of the families of anorexia nervosa patients were delineated. Based on the parents' personality traits, the nature of family relations, the type of children's education, attitude toward the sick child and preparedness for cooperation with the treating physician and medical personnel, five types of the families could be distinguished: harmonious one and 4 types of disharmonic families (non-harmonious, symbiotic, rigid pseudosolidary and destructive (conflicting]. The first two family types are more characteristic of patients suffering from borderline anorexia nervosa, the remainder three of schizophrenic patients with the syndrome of anorexia nervosa. The family types have been thus characterized; a complex of psychocorrective measures have been worked out both for patients themselves and their relatives with regard to the specific features of each family type.

Anorexia Nervosa↗
PubMed2006

[Polymorphisms of adiponectin and resistin genes in patients with obesity and anorexia nervosa].

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin and resistin are hormones that may represent a link between obesity and insulin resistance. Genes for these hormones are new candidate genes of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms 45T > G and 276T > G of adiponectin gene and 62G > A and -180C > G of resistin gene in patients with obesity, anorexia nervosa and in lean women and to study the influence of particular genotypes on serum concentrations of these hormones. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum adiponectin, resistin, TNF-alfa and insulin levels were measured in 51 patients with obesity, 17 with anorexia nervosa and 17 lean women. DNA analysis was carried out by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction analysis of PCR product (RFLP). Adiponectin levels were lowest in obese women and highest in anorexia nervosa patients. Resistin concentrations were lowest in anorexia nervosa and highest in obese patients. Genotype analysis within respective groups showed no differences in assessed parameters when comparing different adiponectin and resistin polymorphisms. The only difference detected was significantly higher BMI in G/G genotype relative to T allele carries in 276 position of ADP gene in control group (23.48 +/- 0.85 vs. 19,7 +/- 0.95, p < 0.05). In anorexia nervosa patients, frequency of G allele in RETN -180 polymorphism was significantly higher relative to control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms 45T > G a 276T > G of ADP gene and 62G>A and -180C > G RETN gene did not influence serum ADP and RETN concentrations. BMI was influenced by T allele presence in 276 position of ADP gene in control group only. Anorexia nervosa patients had higher frequency of G allele of RETN -180 polymorphism compared to healthy women.

Adiponectin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Anorexia in the first year of life. Case contribution].

The anorexia is a frequent cause for paediatric consultation, especially during the first year of life, during which often it is not due to illness or to some organic cause. Particularly interesting from the etiopathogenetic and most of all from the curative point of view are the protracted anorexias in which the relationships mother-child-surroundings appear disturbed. Generally, the loss or the simple reduction of the appetite could heal, all the same and also in a short while if the mother would accept willingly the new situation, trusting in a spontaneous resolution. On the contrary she usually forces the infant to take the meal even if incompletely, meeting at each new attempt, the infant's resistance initially passive and then more and more active and efficacious. Thus an "anorexia for opposition" is established by the conflict between mother and child that the mother stirfs up to then end looser if not even victim. An exemplar in this connection is given by the anorexias of the 16 personal cases extracted from a larger casuistry: infant of age between 40 days and 12 months in the most part of which the anorexia was arisen from different causes (illness from slight infections, the replacement of the human milk with the adapted milk, the weaning, copious rations); in some infants the loss of appetite was without an apparent cause. The anorexia became worse after the mother's reiterated attempts to force the infant to have a meal. During the hospitalization the mother was detained with the son; the giving of the meals was in a first time done by the paramedical personnel with the mother present an then by the mother only. In 14 infants the cyproheptadine was given. Only in a few cases the mothers were treated with anxiolytic. All the cases have been resolve positively.

Anorexia↗