Anorexia Nervosa

Treatment Options

People with Anorexia can get better. It is important to reach the sufferer to a physician at the earliest even if she strongly resists cooperating. Different types of health care providers, like doctors, nutritionists, and therapists together can help them. Various treatments have been suggested for anorexia nervosa which includes psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, simple supportive therapy, isolation, acupuncture, family therapy, behaviour modification, cognitive therapy etc. 

The medical treatment starts with analyzing and stabilizing the threatening complications of starvation. Weight gain of one to three pounds per week is considered safe and desirable. 

Doctors  most frequently advise integrated  and multifaceted treatment programmes because anorexia nervosa patients differ  widely in psychological, social, behavioral and biological functioning.  The most difficult and critical factor in treatment is engaging the patient in therapy. Most of the anorexics deny their illness, they insist there is nothing wrong with them. 

 Some form of psychotherapy is needed to deal with the underlying emotional issues. Psychiatric treatment uses cognitive, behavioral, and psychotherapeutic methods within a comprehensive treatment plan.  Weight gain must occur if psychological treatment is meaningful. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is sometimes used to change abnormal thoughts and behaviors. Group therapy is often advised so people can share their experiences with others. Family therapy is important particularly if the individual is living at home and is a young adolescent. Individual counseling can also help someone with anorexia. 

Hospitalization should be considered if there are numerous physical complications and if the patient is suicidal or extremely unmotivated.  The urgency of hospitalization depends on several factors such as weight loss greater than 30% of body weight over three months, severe metabolic disturbance, severe depression or suicide risk, severe purging psychosis, family crisis or symptoms of severe starvation. Left untreated, some of the physical effects of anorexia are irreversible.