Introduction: Anorexia and undereating

Abstract

The eating disorder (ED) anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder. Although the clinical diagnosis of AN has been recognized and included in the American Psychological Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual since the 1980s, the cause of AN remains largely unclear. A number of elements are suggested to be involved in the development of AN, including genetic and contextual. The use of animal models in research efforts to determine the causes of AN and expand upon the existing knowledge concerning the effects of this disorder may lead to significant progress in both understanding and treating this harmful illness. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.