Abstract

Background: Eating disorders (ED) are characterized by psychosocial disfunctions, like social anxiety, alexithymia and lack of assertiveness. Objective: To propose a comprehensive integrative model including neurobiology and behavior aspects. Method: A literature review on Medline/PubMed, SciELO and specialized texts databases were assessed against quality criteria. Core concepts were extracted and coherence articulated. Results: Four factors were disposed to meaning: alarm and reward system with social brain and control (inhibition/excitation) mechanisms. They were articulate in a complex psychophysiological interplay. They were associated with social behaviours achieved/not achieved during development. Food intake could operate like a pathological balance to psychopathological effects Conclusion: An explanatory/comprehensive psychoneurobiological model to understand social function in ED is proposed. This form of understanding facilitates: the connection between emerging research in eating disorders and ID; clinical decision-making and guide the prognosis and treatment alternatives.