ABSTRACT
Anorexia nervosa and affective disorder are linked by more than shared symptoms. W. W. Gull noted that the victims of anorexia nervosa were usually women between the ages of 16 and 23. The psychological as well as the physical aspects of the disorder received attention in Gull and C. Lasegue’s descriptions, and anorexia nervosa was recognized as a distinct clinical entity. Psychoanalysis brought about a new understanding of psychological factors in anorexia nervosa. The concept of anorexia nervosa as a heterogenous phenomenon composed of various subgroups has received considerable attention in the literature and has encouraged advancement in the diagnostic conceptualization of anorexia nervosa. P. J. Dally argued that in order for anorexia nervosa to be recognized as a specific syndrome, a precise definition is needed; thus, the importance of defining strict diagnostic criteria. Anorexia nervosa is viewed as a distinct clinical entity.
