Increased anticipatory but decreased consummatory brain responses to food in sisters of anorexia nervosa patients.

Background: We have previously shown increased anticipatory and consummatory neural responses to rewarding and aversive food stimuli in women recovered from anorexia nervosa (AN).

Aims: To determine whether these differences are trait markers for AN, we examined the neural response in those with a familial history but no personal history of AN.

Method: Thirty-six volunteers were recruited: 15 who had a sister with anorexia nervosa (family history) and 21 control participants.