Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience

Advancing Understanding of Anorexia Nervosa: Neuroimaging and Translational Approaches

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a complex and severe psychiatric disorder marked by restrictive eating behaviors, intense fear of weight gain, and body image distortion. It often emerges during adolescence, predominantly affects females, and is associated with high rates of morbidity, relapse, and the highest mortality among psychiatric conditions. Despite extensive research over the past few decades, AN continues to pose a significant clinical and public health challenge due to the absence of approved pharmacological treatments. However, recent advances in clinical, translational, and neuroimaging research are shedding new light on the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms underlying AN. These emerging insights are facilitating a transition from symptom-centered models to more integrated and holistic care approaches. By identifying neurobiological correlates of core symptoms and uncovering potential biomarkers, this line of research holds promise for the development of targeted and more effective treatments in the future.

Current treatments for AN yield only modest results, with as many as 66% of patients exhibiting either partial or complete unresponsiveness. The rising prevalence of AN is placing significant strain on already under-resourced healthcare systems, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the impact of AN extends beyond clinical settings, influencing educational achievement, occupational performance, and socioeconomic independence, especially among women. This highlights the urgent need for a paradigm shift in our understanding and treatment of the disorder. Advances in neuroimaging and clinical science now equip us with tools to uncover the neural mechanisms that drive and sustain AN symptoms. By integrating these insights into translational research frameworks, we can identify new treatment targets and personalize interventions.

This Article Collection invites original research and reviews articles that align with the Journal’s scope in clinical psychiatry, providing an interface with neurosciences, promoting studies integrating relevant basic science, clinical studies, and therapeutic potential.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to: neuroimaging correlates of Anorexia Nervosa, neuroimaging correlates of restrictive eating behaviors, neuroimaging correlates of cognitive-affective processing alterations in Anorexia Nervosa; genetic and epigenetic studies exploring risk and resilience factors associated with restrictive behaviors; epidemiological studies investigating specific exposure factors associated with Anorexia Nervosa or restrictive behaviors; integrated clinical models of disease progression; novel interventions including neuromodulation, pharmacotherapy, and digital health tools; studies addressing biological and developmental differences in male Anorexia Nervosa.

Submissions employing longitudinal designs, machine learning techniques, or normative modeling frameworks are particularly encouraged. By fostering dialogue across disciplines, this Article Collection aims to contribute to a nuanced and integrative understanding of Anorexia Nervosa, ultimately guiding more effective clinical and public health responses.

Dr. Feliberto de la Cruz is a computational neuroscience researcher whose work integrates neuroimaging, data-driven modeling, and clinical insight to investigate the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying various brain conditions. He is especially interested in brain-body interactions and their disruption across psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Andy Schumann, Ph.D., is an engineer, neuroscientist, and research group leader in the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy. He specializes in biological signal analysis and functional neuroimaging, with over 15 years of experience in investigating the neural underpinnings of mental disorders.

Dr. Livio Tarchi, MD is a psychiatrist specializing in eating disorders, gender dysphoria and sexual health. His research focuses on integrating clinical practice and translational neuroscience. He aims to develop innovative perspectives on biological and developmental determinants of restrictive eating behaviors.

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience welcomes original Research Articles, Brief Reports, and Review/State of the Art. Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

Please be sure to select the Article Collection 'Advancing Understanding of Anorexia Nervosa: Neuroimaging and Translational Approaches' from the drop-down menu in the submission system. Failure to select the appropriate Article Collection can result in delays.

Please contact the Commissioning Editor, Menghan Li at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.