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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.
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.
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