Understanding the effects of reductionist biological views of eating disorder etiology on patient attitudes and behavior.

While eating disorders were historically considered to be a result of psychological or environmental causes, current evidence suggests that eating disorders are the product of complex gene-environment interactions wherein heritable vulnerabilities are activated by multiple exposures to environmental stimuli over the lifespan. Despite the fact that this integrated biopsychosocial etiological view of eating disorders is accepted among many professionals in the eating disorder field, evidence suggests that the general public and some clinicians are susceptible to dualist, or reductionist, views of psychopathology. Currently, little is known about (a) the prevalence of reductionist biological views of eating disorder etiology in those with eating disorders (this view attributes the cause of eating disorders to predominantly biological factors but does not acknowledge psychosocial factors as important contributors), (b) the effects of reductionist biological views on clinical outcomes, and (c) the most effective methods for modifying these views. In this article, we present the results of a preliminary investigation on the relationship between perceived causes of eating disorders and the attitudes and behaviors of those with eating disorders. We then go on to propose specific avenues for further research on uncovering the effects of reductionist biological views of eating disorder etiology.