RESUMEN
Los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) constituyen una condición somática y psiquiátrica grave, que sucede principalmente en mujeres adolescentes y jóvenes adultas y que se caracteriza por deseo persistente de extrema delgadez, miedo patológico a engordar y distorsión de la percepción corporal. Desde un punto de vista neurobiológico, se ha sugerido la existencia de alteraciones en algunos de los sistemas neurales de estas pacientes, bien como causa o consecuencia de su patología. En los últimos años, se están realizando múltiples estudios de investigación en este ámbito, con el objetivo de determinar las alteraciones cerebrales subyacentes en los TCA. El propósito de este artículo es realizar una revisión de los principales hallazgos obtenidos en los estudios de neuroimagen realizados, incluyendo PET, SPECT, resonancia magnética con imagen espectroscópica (MRS) y centrándonos, principalmente, en la imagen de resonancia magnética funcional (fMRI). Se revisarán también algunas de las alteraciones y cambios metabólicos y de perfusión sanguínea que acompañan a los hallazgos de neuroimagen, así como los estudios encaminados a concretar si estas alteraciones persisten tras la recuperación de la enfermedad (AU)
Eating behavior disorders (EBD) constitute a serious somatic and psychiatric condition that occurs mainly in adolescent and young adult women and is characterized by a persistent desire to be extremely thin, pathologic fear of gaining weight and distortion of body perception. From a neurobiological vantage point, it has been suggested that alterations in some neural systems of these patients may exist, either as a cause or effect of their condition. In recent years various research studies have been conducted with the aim of identifying underlying brain disorders in EBD. The purpose of this article was to review the main findings obtained in neuroimaging studies, including PET, SPECT, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), focusing mainly on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Some alterations and changes in metabolism and blood perfusion that accompany the neuroimaging findings will be reviewed, as well as studies designed to determine whether these alterations persist after recovery from the disease (AU)
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Trastornos de Alimentación y de la Ingestión de Alimentos/diagnóstico , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética/métodos , Bulimia Nerviosa/diagnóstico , Anorexia Nerviosa/diagnóstico , Imagen CorporalRESUMEN
Eating behavior disorders (EBD) constitute a serious somatic and psychiatric condition that occurs mainly in adolescent and young adult women and is characterized by a persistent desire to be extremely thin, pathologic fear of gaining weight and distortion of body perception. From a neurobiological vantage point, it has been suggested that alterations in some neural systems of these patients may exist, either as a cause or effect of their condition. In recent years various research studies have been conducted with the aim of identifying underlying brain disorders in EBD. The purpose of this article was to review the main findings obtained in neuroimaging studies, including PET, SPECT, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), focusing mainly on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Some alterations and changes in metabolism and blood perfusion that accompany the neuroimaging findings will be reviewed, as well as studies designed to determine whether these alterations persist after recovery from the disease.