Mapping Treatment Advances in the Neurobiology of Binge Eating Disorder: A Concept Paper

TL;DR

This concept paper explores how advances in understanding the brain and body can lead to better treatments for binge eating disorder.

Contribution

The paper introduces the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a novel therapeutic strategy for binge eating disorder.

Findings

Neurobiological abnormalities in reward and self-regulation are key targets for BED treatment.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis may influence BED pathogenesis and treatment strategies.

Abstract

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a complex and heritable mental health disorder, with genetic, neurobiological, neuroendocrinological, environmental and developmental factors all demonstrated to contribute to the aetiology of this illness. Although psychotherapy is the gold standard for treating BED, a significant subgroup of those treated do not recover. Neurobiological research highlights aberrances in neural regions associated with reward processing, emotion processing, self-regulation and executive function processes, which are clear therapeutic targets for future treatment frameworks. Evidence is emerging of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, which may mediate energy balance, high-lighting a possible underlying pathogenesis factor of BED, and provides a potential therapeutic strategy.