Anorexia Nervosa and gender: a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach; Part 1 – Historical, epidemiological, clinical, and familial aspects

Abstract

This study was performed in order to broaden the understanding of anorexia nervosa as a paradigmatic condition among eating disorders, considering the principle that individual and collective factors are fundamental in the construction of health and disease phenomena. The study is divided into three parts; in this one – the first - historical, etiologic, epidemiologic and clinical aspects are discussed; in the second part, the discussion involves the contributions of Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology, also in an interdisciplinary arrangement, as well as the third part - which concludes the study - presents a theoretical essay on the use of some homeopathic medicines applicable to the treatment of anorexia nervosa, considering the Law of Similarity of the Homeopathic Doctrine. A bibliographic review was performed over the state of the art of the clinical condition anorexia nervosa, using the PubMed search platform. Although each part of the study has an independent context, the reader will benefit from reading and understanding the three parts, since the interdisciplinary arrangement reinforces the understanding of the subject studied in its general and specific aspects. The first part is presented with emphasis on the etiological, epidemiological, clinical and familial aspects of the disorder, but always emphasizing the interaction with social determinants in the genesis of anorexia nervosa. It is concluded that interdisciplinary studies are necessary and can broaden understanding over the genesis of human suffering – as occurs in the clinical condition anorexia nervosa - thus bringing patients closer to the most effective therapies, in a holistic perspective.