Study: Genes may cause risk for anorexia

Of course, then I find a nice AP article on USA Today that I also have to link to. On one hand, I agree with Cynthia Bulik’s statement that we need to stop blaiming people for disorders. All mental disorders. These are not “choices” that people make.

On the other hand, I’m offended by her implicit suggestion that anything that isn’t a “biologically-based” disorder must have some element of personal choice in it. Regardless of the cause, mental disorders are not choices people make. Who in their right mind would choose to be depressed? (Yes, there is a tiny percentage of people who do make a choice for secondary gains [malingerers], but that percentage is so small as to not be worth talking about.)

It’s not, “If we find a biological link, it’s not your choice; if we don’t find such a link, feel free to continue your stigmatization of this disorder and blaming people for it.”

Researchers studying anorexia in twins conclude that more than half a person’s risk for developing the sometimes fatal eating disorder is determined by genes.

Most experts already believe there is a strong genetic component to the disorder, which mostly affects girls and women. The new study “hammers home the fact that these are biologically based disorders,” said Cynthia Bulik, lead author of the study who is a psychiatrist at the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

“We need to stop viewing them as a choice. … The patients feel guilty, the providers tell them things like they should just eat, parents are blamed, the insurance companies won’t fund treatment because they think it’s a choice. It’s held us back for decades.”

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 16 Mar 2006
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