Males with anorexia nervosa: A controlled study of eating disorders in first‐degree relatives

Abstract

Although anorexia nervosa in males is exceedingly rare, there is a pattern of familial aggregation that is highly similar to that observed in recent family studies of affected females. On the basis of these findings, there is no evidence that familial-genetic factors distinguish the occurrence of anorexia nervosa in the two sexes.

Are there gender differences in core symptoms, temperament, and short-term prospective outcome in anorexia nervosa?

“…In general, these findings concur with the relatively few clinical studies of gender influences in anorexia nervosa that have suggested minimal differences between males and females in symptom phenomenology, 6-8 but a possibly greater intensity of specific weight concerns among females. 5 Combined with our earlier report of strong familial transmission of anorexia nervosa in male patients, 16 the present findings support the descriptive, nosological validity of anorexia nervosa across genders.…”

Muscle dysmorphia and the DSM‐V conundrum: Where does it belong? A review paper

“…49 Interestingly, this pattern of familial aggregation between muscle dysmorphia and anorexia nervosa is remarkably similar to the familial transmission of anorexia nervosa between first-degree relatives. 50 …”

Male eating disorders and therapy: A controlled pilot study with one year follow-up

“…While most characteristics of men and women with EDs are similar, men have been reported to have higher levels of Axis I (Woodside et al, 2001), and Axis II (StriegelMoore, Garvin, Dohm, & Rosenheck, 1999) comorbidity, more frequent homosexuality (Bramon-Bosch, Troop, & Treasure, 2000), more premorbid overweight or obesity (Ferná ndez-Aranda et al, 2004) and a later onset (Braun, Sunday, Huang, & Halmi, 1999;Grabhorn, Kopp, Gitzinger, von Wietersheim, & Kaufhold, 2003). Other studies have failed to find gender differences in personality traits (Ferná ndezAranda et al, 2004) or familial-genetic or individual risk factors (Strober, Freeman, Lampert, Diamond, & Kaye, 2001).…”