World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) consensus statement on candidate biomarkers for anorexia nervosa

Himmerich H, Keeler JL, King JA, Ehrlich S, Kaufmann LK, Bulik CM, Cohen-Woods S, Wade T, Steiger H, Booij L, Monteleone P, Cascino G, Monteleone AM, Cuntz U, Voderholzer U, Tessema SA, Lewis YD, Sjögren M, Hebebrand J, Seitz J, Tyszkiewicz-Nwafor M, Karpenko O, Mutwalli H, Fetissov SO, Mack I, Dhopatkar N, Mörkl S, Kan C, Uribe MM, Yoshiuchi K, Abuobeid N, Kapogiannis D, Stein D, Bektas S, Müller DJ, Gorwood P, Duriez P, Montcel CTd, Paszyńska E, McElroy SL, Wranik WD, Fernandez-Aranda F, Mehler PS, Papežová H, Roubalová R, Procházková P, Morris R, Lewczuk P, Hiemke C, Berk M, Karwautz A, Treasure J, Kasper S (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2026.2626934

Abstract

Objectives: This World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) consensus paper aims to summarise and evaluate the published study results on objectively measurable biological markers associated with anorexia nervosa (AN). Methods: The relevant literature was reviewed by the WFSBP Task Forces on Eating Disorders and on Biological Markers, and a consensus regarding the significance of the published evidence was reached. Results: Candidate biological markers that have been associated with AN include clinical (e.g. body weight), molecular (e.g. genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, immunological, metabolomic), cellular (e.g. leukocytes), neuroimaging (e.g. structure, function, connectivity), digital, cardiac and neurophysiological parameters. Some clinical and laboratory parameters are risk markers in clinical practice. Biological markers have pathophysiological relevance in understanding the biological and metabolic pathophysiology of AN and its physical health consequences. Few studies have examined pharmacogenetics or therapeutic drug monitoring as tools to monitor and guide the treatment of AN. Conclusions: Biological markers will hopefully soon enable clinicians to intervene earlier in a more targeted manner to mitigate treatment resistance. However, the current scientific basis for most biological markers are group comparisons only. Studies on sensitivity, specificity and the prognostic value of these markers are lacking.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Flinders University Australia (AU) King’s College London United Kingdom (GB) Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden Germany (DE) Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour Netherlands (NL) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill United States (USA) (US) University of Rouen / Université de Rouen France (FR) Universitätsklinikum Tübingen Germany (DE) South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust United Kingdom (GB) Medizinische Universität Graz Austria (AT) Universidad Nacional de Colombia Colombia (CO) National Institute on Aging (NIA) United States (USA) (US) Tel Aviv University Israel (IL) University of Toronto Canada (CA) National Institute for Health and Medical Research / Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) France (FR) Centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne France (FR) Poznan University of Medical Sciences / Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu Poland (PL) Lindner Center of HOPE United States (USA) (US) Dalhousie University Canada (CA) Bellvitge University Hospital / Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge Spain (ES) Denver Health Medical Center United States (USA) (US) General University Hospital in Prague / Všeobecná Fakultní Nemocnice v Praze (VFN) Czech Republic (CZ) Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (ASCR) / Akademie věd České republiky (AVČR) Czech Republic (CZ) Douglas Mental Health University Institute Canada (CA) Università degli Studi di Salerno Italy (IT) Università degli studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Italy (IT) Schön Klinik Roseneck Germany (DE) St. Paul‘s Hospital Ethiopia (ET) Shalvata Mental Health Center / המרכז לבריאות הנפש שלוותה Israel (IL) Umeå University Sweden (SE) Universitätsklinikum Essen Germany (DE) Psychiatric Hospital no. 1 Named after N.A. Alexeev of the Department of Health of Moscow Russian Federation (RU) Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz Germany (DE) Deakin University Australia (AU) Medizinische Universität Wien Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Himmerich, H., Keeler, J.L., King, J.A., Ehrlich, S., Kaufmann, L.K., Bulik, C.M.,... Kasper, S. (2026). World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) consensus statement on candidate biomarkers for anorexia nervosa. World Journal of Biological Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2026.2626934

MLA:

Himmerich, Hubertus, et al. "World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) consensus statement on candidate biomarkers for anorexia nervosa." World Journal of Biological Psychiatry (2026).

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