Problems of Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

An effective treatment program involves measures for correction of both the malnutrition and the psychological disturbance in patients with anorexia nervosa. A novel approach to re-feeding, using motivational incentives in a controlled hospital setting, has been useful in the restoration of weight. The difficulty in maintenance of desirable weight after leaving hospital might be related to continuing disturbances in family relationships and to perceptual distortions. Treatment to prevent recurrence of symptoms should involve efforts to improve family communications and relationships, and correcting the patient's faulty perceptions. Both the disturbance in recognition of satiety and overestimation of the width of her trunk are reflected in limitation in caloric intake and relentless pursuit of thinness. Attention to correcting these perceptual disturbances might allow the patient to realize an accurate and acceptable sense of self, and to tolerate fears involving physical and psychological aspects of sexual maturation.