Anorexia nervosa in Twins

Abstract

In 1979, Askevold and Heiberg made an interesting contribution to the discussion on the hereditability of anorexia nervosa by reviewing a series of case reports concerning monozygotic twins. Their data, however, were not entirely accurate and they also overlooked some important references which are briefly discussed. 3 cases of the authors’ own practice are added. A final examination of the available data with respect to anorexia nervosa in twins does not substantially support the assumption that genetic factors may play a determining role in the etiology of this syndrome.

Anorexia nervosa: A review of possible genetic factors

“…It must be borne in mind that criteria for concordance may vary from one report to another. Two previous (although incomplete) reviews (Askevold & Heiberg, 1979;Vandereycken & Pierloot, 1981) have both returned a concordance rate of about one in three.…”

Evidence of complex involvement of serotonergic genes with restrictive and binge purge subtypes of anorexia nervosa

“…Occurring predominantly during adolescence (Halmi et al 1979) the disease is characterised by a pathological obsession for thinness through the control of eating behaviour. Evidence from family and twin studies have suggested that both genetic and environmental components contribute to the development of AN (Vandereycken and Pierloot 1981;Garfi nkel and Garner 1982;Lilenfeld et al 1998;Fairburn et al 1999;Sokol et al 2009). The genetic component has been estimated through meta analysis of twin studies as contributing up to 76% of the susceptibility to AN (Treasure and Holland 1990;Klump and Culbert 2007).…”

Anorexia nervosa in Monozygotic Twins

“…Vanderycken and Pierloot [7] corrected errors in the former paper of Askevold and Heiberg [6], and added their own cases and other overlooked papers. Of the monozygotic twins mentioned, only 9 pairs fulfilled strict criteria for anorexia nervosa and zygosity, with 3 of the 9 cases being concordant.…”