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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis

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Published on: May 10, 2022

Is Anorexia Truly a Contemporary Disease?

Carole Jassogne¹, Denis Jacques, Thomas Dubois

¹Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Rue Dr Gaston Therasse 1, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium, carole.jassogne@chuuclnamur.uclouvain.be.

Psychiatria Danubina

|November 23, 2023

Summary

Anorexia nervosa (AN) has ancient roots in fasting practices, evolving over centuries. While some view AN as a modern disorder driven by societal pressures, others see it as a continuation of historical female attempts to escape societal roles.

Keywords:

history of anorexia - anorexia + Antiquity - anorexia + Middle Ages - anorexia + Renaissance - anorexia + 20

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Area of Science:

Medical History
Psychiatry
Sociology

Background:

Anorexia nervosa (AN) prevalence is increasing, yet fasting has ancient origins.
The study questions if modern AN diagnoses apply to historical contexts and if symptoms represent an evolving continuum or a recent phenomenon.

Conclusions:

Two theses exist: AN is recent, driven by modern pressures on women, or AN is an heir to mystical fasting, representing women's escape from societal roles.
The latter view is supported by hagiographic and psychoanalytic studies on mother-daughter dynamics and pubertal issues.