MentorCONNECT Announces Collaboration with UCSD Eating Disorder Research Program

HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MentorCONNECT, the first global eating disorders mentoring community and a registered non-profit organization, announces collaboration with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Eating Disorder Program. Specifically, MentorCONNECT will be collaborating with Dr. Walter Kaye's research team at UCSD. Dr. Kaye is an internationally renowned leader in neurobiological research and has published over 300 papers and articles on the subject of eating disorders treatment and research. Shannon Cutts, MentorCONNECT's founder and executive director, is an internationally known advocate for the vital role recovered persons fulfill in providing mentorship and support to recovering persons.

Dr. Kaye and his team are currently conducting a study to identify brain processes that contribute to the development of eating disorders. This study utilizes functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomograph (PET) to study neural pathways related to appetite, reward and other symptoms. This study is being conducted on women who have successfully recovered from an eating disorder. Hopefully, knowledge gleaned from this study will help researchers understand some of the neurobiological factors of disordered eating as well as aid clinicians in the development of novel treatments.

The UCSD/MentorCONNECT collaboration aims to provide MentorCONNECT members with opportunities to take part in vital research and participate in educational initiatives to better understand the needs of recovering persons.

Contacts:

Shannon Cutts
Executive Director, MentorCONNECT
713-382-4272
[email protected]

Walter Kaye, MD
Professor, Psychiatry
UCSD Eating Disorders Program
(858) 534-8019
[email protected]

More About the University of California-San Diego Eating Disorders Research Team:

The causes and neurobiological correlates of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are poorly understood. Consequently, treatments remain unsatisfactory and the process of recovery often is quite difficult. The primary purpose of our research at the University of California - San Diego (UCSD) Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program is to develop new understandings of how behavior is coded in the brain in order to develop better treatments. Improvements in the understanding and treatment of eating disorders (EDs) remain an issue of immense clinical and public health importance. EDs are often chronic and relapsing illnesses with substantial and costly medical morbidity. Innovative brain imaging technologies offer new insights into brain mechanisms that help explain ED symptoms.  http://eatingdisorders.ucsd.edu/

Dr. Walter Kaye Photo:
http://www.ereleases.com/pic/DrWalterKaye.jpg

More About MentorCONNECT:

MentorCONNECT, a non-profit organization, is the first global eating disorders mentoring community. Females and males aged 14 and up actively engaged in recovery from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified are encouraged to join. Members can match with a mentor for individual support, participate in group mentoring activities, join in weekly support group meetings, receive daily supportive emails, enjoy monthly teleconferences, create a personal recovery blog, and more. MentorCONNECT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID: 32041949804). http://www.mentorconnect-ed.org

MentorCONNECT Logo:
http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2011-MentorCONNECT.jpg

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SOURCE MentorCONNECT