For Professionals

Anorexia Nervosa: A guide for patients and their loved ones

Viewed from an evolutionary perspective, individuals and their families need not shoulder the blame for anorexia nervosa. Rather, understanding the challenging biological changes can help families and clinicians work together to beat it. The patient and family guide is available for free download.

Adapted to Flee Famine: Adding an Evolutionary Perspective on Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is commonly attributed to psychological conflicts, attempts to be fashionably slender, neuroendocrine dysfunction, or some combination of these factors. Considerable research reveals these theories to be incomplete. This article presents evidence that anorexia is an evolved genetic response to times of famine.

Client-Therapist Script

E-mail correspondence exchange between Dr. Shan Guisinger and a client who is recovering from Anorexia Nervosa. Dr. Guisinger has over 30 years of clinical experience helping individuals recover from eating disorders. This script shows a snapshot of how she uses the Adapted to Famine Theory to help people recover.