Anorexia und Bulimia nervosa im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Anorexia (AN) and Bulimia nervosa (BN) are common psychiatric disorders in adolescent girls. AN has the highest mortality rate of child- and adolescent psychiatric disorders. In the last decade the understanding of the etiology, maintaining conditions and therapy has changed. Besides familial and psychosocial factors there is evidence contributing to the etiologic relevance of temperament and biological factors, e.g. a vulnerability of the serotonergic system in the state of starvation. In the following clinical and somatic symptoms will be summarized. Modern theories of Anorexia and Bulimia nervosa will be discussed to give support for diagnostics and treatment.