Interoception in Anorexia Nervosa
摘要
The following chapter examines the role of interoceptive function in anorexia nervosa. Interoceptive function refers to how the body and brain work together to monitor and regulate our internal states (e.g., pain, hunger). It also plays an important role in emotion function as we rely on bodily signals to understand how we feel. Given its role in understanding our body and emotions, it is not surprising that disturbances in interoceptive processing have been identified across a range of psychiatric illnesses including anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by low body weight and behaviors such as binging, purging, and excessive exercise, and it is the deadliest of all mental health conditions. Self-report, experimental and neuroimaging research find abnormalities in interoceptive function in this group. There are a range of treatment options that target interoceptive abnormalities in anorexia nervosa with interoceptive exposure therapy constituting the most common approach. Research on these treatments is lacking, but growing, and what is available suggests that treatments targeting interoceptive function do lead to significant improvements for those with anorexia nervosa.