• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2012

Objectives : QT interval prolongation and dispersion known as indicators of an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death have been reported to be prolonged in patients with anorexia nervosa. The aims of this study were to compare conduction abnormalities in Korean patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and to examine its relation with clinical and laboratory factors. Methods : We retrospectively examined 45 women with anorexia nervosa and 75 women with bulimia nervosa who were assessed by 12-lead electrocardiogram at baseline. QT interval and corrected QT interval, QT dispersion of the difference between the longest and shortest QT intervals, and abnormal U wave were measured for conduction abnormalities. Results : QT interval was significantly longer in patients with anorexia nervosa compared with those with bulimia nervosa. There were no differences in QTc (Corrected QT), QTd (QT dispersion) and abnormal U wave between patients with anorexia nervosa and those with bulimia nervosa. QTd was significantly correlated with the lowest ever lifetime body mass index ($kg/m^2$) as well as the serum amylase level in patients with anorexia nervosa. Conclusions : These results suggest some conduction abnormalities reported in patients with anorexia nervosa are also found in patients with bulimia nervosa. It appears that severity of weight loss and purging behavior could affect the cardiac arrhythmia in patients with eating disorders. Appropriate attention should be paid to cardiac involvement in patients with eating disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.74-79
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• 2013

Objectives This paper aims to understand the emotional-biological pathogenesis of eating disorders, and translate the understanding into new brain directed treatments. Methods The first part of the review sets the eating behavior into the context of what is now understood about the central control of appetite and molecular biology. The second part of the review sees how emotion relates to the brain circuit involving eating disorders. Results In general, patients with anorexia nervosa restricting type were less sensitive to reward, whereas patients with bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa binge purging type were more sensitive to it. The emotional life of people with eating disorders centers on food, weight, and shape. The abnormalities in social and emotional functioning both precede and persist outside of eating disorders. Conclusions Research into understanding the biological framework of the brain in eating disorders suggests that abnormalities may exist in emotional and information processing. This aspect can be translated into novel brain-directed treatments, particularly in anorexia nervosa.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.209-213
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• 2008

In young adolescent girls, anorexia nervosa is a significant cause of weight loss, and hospital admissions among children and adolescents. Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening disorder, with about one-third of deaths caused by cardiac complications. A high rate of pericardial effusion has been recently reported in patients with anorexia nervosa, although relatively few cases require pericardiocentesis. Here, we describe three patients with anorexia nervosa who were diagnosed with large pericardial effusions. To prevent cardiac tamponade, pericardiocentesis was performed in two girls.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2007

Anorexia nervosa is a physical and psychosocial disorder that occurs most frequently in adolescent girls and young adult women. A decade ago, anorexia nervosa was rare outside of the developed western countries. However, it is now becoming a common clinical problem among young women in Korea. It is not enough to merely focus on relieving patients from the symptoms of "not eating," which is a practice that has been adopted by some forms of hospital care. The evidence base to guide treatment is limited. Nevertheless, there is the hope that a better understanding of the factors that play a role in the initiation and maintenance of disordered eating behaviors may be lead to more sophisticated treatments. This review aims to look beyond the overt "not eating" phenotype of anorexia nervosa and considers eating disorder endophenotypes based on Treasure's model. The first part of the review sets the basis for a framework of potential eating disorder endophenotypes. A description of the evidence of disordered eating behaviors as well as the clinical and psychopathological features associated with the central control of appetite follow. Finally, we describe how endophenotypes can be translated into treatments.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.655-661
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• 2004

Anorexia nervosa is a serious, often chronic, and life-threatening eating disorder defined by a refusal to maintain minimal body weight (within 15% of an individual s normal weight). Other essential features of this disorder include an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and amenorrhea(absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles when they are otherwise expected to occur). With anorexia nervosa, the nails and hair become brittle, and the skin may become dry and yellow. In addition to depression, hypothermia, lanugo, nausea, vomiting, anxiety and dehydration from sweating can appear. Starvation, weight loss, and related medical complications are quite serious and can result in death. Recently one patient was admitted with anorexia nervosa-like symptoms. The patient is a 18-year-old girl with complaints of weight loss, amenorrhea, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, tremor, and sweating. After treatment through oriental medicine for 2 weeks, most of the symptoms improved. Therefore, this application of oriental medicine is reported with a plea for further investigation.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to review the research trends in the treatment of eating disorder in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Methods: The CNKI database (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) was searched under the key words ‘Eating Disorder’, ‘Anorexia Nervosa’, and ‘Bulimia Nervosa’. Results: Thirteen articles were selected. These included 2 studies on bulimia nervosa, and 11 studies on anorexia nervosa. According to study design, studies were classified into 1 randomized controlled trial, 2 single group before-and-after studies, and 8 case reports. According to therapy method, they included 11 herbal medicine studies, and 2 complex treatment studies. The most common pattern identification was ‘liver qi depression’ (肝氣鬱結), and the most used herb was ‘Root of Bupleurum falcatum’ (柴胡). Most of the studies showed effective results. Conclusions: The results of our study indicated that TCM clinical studies on eating disorder were being conducted more actively than in Korean medicine. Korean medical treatment might be effective to relieve eating disorder symptoms. In the future, more scientifically designed clinical studies should be performed to prove the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine treatment on eating disorder.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was performed to review the research trends in the treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Methods: Studies were searched through The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. The search term for the subject were 'Eating Disorder', and 'Anorexia Nervosa'. Clinical research that conducted TCM treatment for AN patients were included. Studies were analyze according to study design, therapy method, diagnostic criteria, population and intervention. Results: 23 articles were selected. According to study design, studies were classified into two randomized controlled trial (RCT), three single group before-and-after studies, and 18 case reports. According to therapy method, they included 19 herbal medicine studies, two acupuncture treatment studies, and two complex treatment studies. The most common pattern identification was 'liver depression with spleen deficiency' (肝鬱脾虛), and the most used herb was 'Root of Bupleurum falcatum' (柴胡). Most of the studies showed effective results in increasing appetite and weight. Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrate that TCM treatments for AN has been effective in alleviating chief symptoms. However, in terms of evidence-based medicine, lack of RCT on TCM treatments for AN and absence of objective diagnostic criteria in case reports are limitations. Therefore well-designed further clinical studies should be performed based on the results of this study are recommended.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2017

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of concurrent therapy with cognitive behavior therapy and person-centered counseling in addition to general Korean herbal medicine treatment for a patient with anorexia nervosa. Methods: A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa was treated with Korean herbal medicine treatment, cognitive behavior therapy, and person-centered treatment. The results were evaluated through a feeding interview, self-checklist, beck depression inventory (BDI) and InBody test. Results: After the treatment period, the treatment effects such as improvement of dietary restriction and elimination behavior, weight gain, and reduced depression were confirmed. Conclusions: This study suggests that concurrent therapy together with cognitive behavior therapy, person-centered counseling, and general Korean herbal medicine treatment is effective on patients with anorexia nervosa.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.40-42
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• 2001

Anorexia nervosa(AN) is a disorder characterized by disturbance of body image, fear of gaining weight, severe weight loss and, in female, amenorrhea. Compared with normal persons, patients with AN have neuropathic symptoms more frequently. But electrophysiologic abnormalities have rarely been reported. We experienced a case with recurrent neuropathic symptoms after severe weight loss. Further evaluation revealed AN. Electrophysiologic study showed sensorimotor polyneuropathy and focal neuropathy with conduction block. As far as we know, this feature of neuropathy in AN has not been described. We describe unusual feature of neuropathy in our patient with literature review.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.360-362
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• 2015

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (PM) is an uncommon condition in which free air enters the mediastinum. This usually occurs either through esophageal tears after vigorous vomiting, or after alveolar rupture subsequent to a rapid increase in intra-alveolar pressure. Spontaneous PM is a rare entity in anorexia nervosa (AN) and self-induced vomiting is often the cause of PM in patients with AN. We experienced a case of spontaneous PM in an anorexic adolescent, in whom vomiting was not the cause of PM.