Clinical implications of brain imaging in eating disorders

Imaging studies have greatly improved the understanding of the pathology and physiology of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette syndrome. In the past few years, several neuroimaging studies have concentrated on patients with eating disorders. Although the number of studies is small compared with studies of other psychiatric disorders, the results are beginning to highlight potential areas in the brain that may lead to a better understanding of these disorders. Much research still is needed, and replication of results across centers is needed. The brain is an extremely complex organ; that eating disorders are a result of abnormalities in one specific area of the brain is unlikely. More likely is that several components of the brain have a role, including cortex and subcortical regions and involvement of several neurochemical pathways and circuits within the brain. Further studies are needed in this exciting development of research about eating disorders.