As a follow-up to mental health awareness month, brain research has revealed that neurochemistry is disrupted in individuals with eating disorders. Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that are involved in complex signaling pathways. These pathways are dysregulated in eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders. Dopamine is involved in functions related to reward, pleasure, movement, compulsion and perseveration. Serotonin is involved in functions related to mood, memory processing, cognition and sleep. Considerable evidence suggests that altered serotonin and dopamine functions contribute to dysregulation of appetite, mood and impulse control in individuals with eating disorders. Restriction causes reduced plasma levels of tryptophan, the precursor to serotonin, which modulates serotonin activity and therefore symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In individuals without eating disorders, dopamine is associated with a positive reinforcement effect in feeding. In other words, eating feels good. In anorexia nervosa, dopamine dysregulation diminishes the reward effects of food, so that eating does not necessarily feel good. Data suggests low levels of dopamine receptors and weakened responsivity of dopamine is associated with increased eating and weight. We also know that appetite-regulating hormones, like leptin and ghrelin, may affect dopamine functioning. Leptin is an appetite suppressing chemical, and ghrelin stimulates the appetite. In patients with anorexia nervosa, ghrelin is abnormally low. In patients with binge eating, leptin is abnormally low. These findings help confirm that eating disorders are not due to “lack of will power”. There are chemical alterations in the brain that affect the development and persistence of eating disorder symptoms.

The more we as providers understand the biological basis of eating disorders, the better equipped we are to provide effective treatments. Based on new research in the field, novel medications are being studied that may help us better treat eating disorders. Psychiatric medications that target serotonin pathways, such as SSRIs, can be very helpful in the treatment of eating disorders and co-morbid anxiety and mood disorders. Usually, the best treatment for eating disorders is a multidisciplinary approach involving a therapist specializing in eating disorders, a psychiatrist, nutritionist and primary care physician.

At Monte Nido & Affiliates, psychiatric care is provided by board-certified psychiatrists who perform initial psychiatric evaluations upon admission and follow each client throughout their stay. Weekly sessions with the psychiatrist ensure proper medication management to treat eating disorder symptoms and co-morbid issues, such as mood, anxiety and trauma. In addition, the psychiatrists are available 24/7 and are on call for emergencies. The therapists, dietitians, nurses and doctors work closely together so we are able to offer the most comprehensive, compassionate care at every Monte Nido program.