Question

Select and research one Eating disorder Explain the diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis. Discuss the treatment regimen including psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. What type of referral would you make for the client with this disorder? Support your rationale

Answer 1

Persistent restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight (in context of what is minimally expected for age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health) .

Either an intense fear of gaining weight or of becoming fat, or persistent behaviour that interferes with weight gain (even though significantly low weight).

Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body shape and weight on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

Lifetime prevalence of 0.3–1.0%

  New cases each year are around 8 per 100,000 of the population

  Predominately occurs in post-pubertal women

  Peak incidence is 14–19 years

  Onset usually occurs during adolescence

Estimated to have a 50–80% genetic component

Occurs across all socio-economic groups

Most cases are not assessed or treated by mental health professionals

  Other co-morbid medical and psychiatric illnesses can exist

Time for recovery is very variable, usually within 5 years

  Most people recover and have a good quality of life

  The estimated prevalence for anorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosalike disorders is 3–4%.

treatment options

To help the woman increase her weight by refeeding, so that it lies in the normal range

  To establish normal eating behaviour, emphasizing structured eating and regular eating episodes

  To help her acquire helpful attitudes to food and eating, and be flexible in her food choices

  To help her decrease her preoccupation with thoughts of food, eating, and her body

  To help her gain feelings of control over her eating, body, and exercise without her eating-disordered behaviour

  

To help her stop using behaviours aimed at weight loss, including excessive exercise

  To explain the physical and psychological symptoms she may experience during treatment

  To address problems such as relationships or family problems that may prevent recovery

  To help her cope with unpleasant feelings without resorting to disordered eating and weight loss

  To provide support and reassurance

Cbt E is the method of therapy used in this cases and it has the following steps

Stage One

“Start well” (establish the foundations of treatment; achieve early change)

Stage Two

Review progress; identify emerging barriers to change; design Stage Three

Stage Three

Address the main maintaining mechanisms

Stage Four

“End well” (maintain the changes obtained; minimise the risk of relapse)