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Anorexia Nervosa
• Anorexia is characterized by self-starvation and weight loss
resulting in low weight for height and age. It is usually driven
by an intense fear of gaining weight.
• There are two subtypes of anorexia:
» Restricting type, in which individuals lose weight primarily by
dieting, fasting, or excessively exercising.
» Binge eating/purging type in which persons also engage in
intermittent binge eating and/or purging behaviors, such as
vomiting or taking laxatives.
• Patients with anorexia will require renourishment and weight
restoration to assist with recovery.
• Individualized goals will be set for each patient that include
target weight and weight gained for each week.
• Psychotherapy is another essential treatment for anorexia to
help in normalizing eating and weight-related behaviors. In
addition to treating symptoms of the disorder, it will focus on
addressing any underlying fears or concerns that contributed to
the disorder, such as a fear of weight gain or other body image
concerns.
• A number of different psychotherapies are effective in treating
anorexia, including cognitive-behavioral therapies, focal
psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy,
the Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults,
and specialist supportive clinical management.
• For adolescent and young adult patients, family-based
treatment is recommended and teaches family members to help
the patient normalize eating and weight control behaviors.
