Functional Analysis of Anorexia Nervosa: Some Applications to Clinical Practice

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa is a difficult eating disorder with a prevalence of about 1% of young women. According to recent studies, its prevalence is increasing. Thus, its importance as a target for intervention is also increasing. Our intention is to present possibilities for clinical applications of functional behavioural analysis in anorexic clients. We present clinical applications with behavioural principles and processes for a functional analysis of anorectic behaviour. These principles include respondent and operant behaviour, and rule-governed behaviour as well as behavioural processes categorized through aversion learning, discrimination learning and complex schedules of reinforcement. In addition, our purpose is to stimulate research on anorexia nervosa by stating new hypotheses about the subject.