Anorexia Might Have Genetic Link

Posted on March 31, 2006

New research on Swedish twins—published in the March issue of the U.S. journal, Archives of General Psychiatry—suggests that anorexia nervosa may be inherited, and linked with anxiety and/or depression early in life. Noting that this is not a “disorder of choice,” researchers posit that a genetic predisposition may be triggered by environmental factors. Anorexia has highest death rate of any mental illness; this study may influence identification and treatment.