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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Exploring the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa: a Mahlerian standpoint
1University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. mandinewton@ualberta.ca
Topic:
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that extends beyond the well-known phenomenon of self-starvation to include dynamic psychological themes of autonomy and ego disturbances as well as self-regulation through eating disordered behaviors.
Purpose And Source:
Exploration of these themes within Mahler's (1975) object relational framework provides the opportunity to examine the genesis of these themes during early psychological ego development and how they may characterize the development of the anorectic experience.
Conclusion:
The Mahlerian perspective can provide psychiatric nursing with a psychoanalytical perspective outside of standard practice, thus promoting critical analysis and integration among the varying professions of psychiatry.
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