Anorexia Nervosa: Etiology, Treatment, and Related Information

Dr. Levenkron talks about Anorexia Nervosa as a pathological distortion of today’s society of being “Fashion-model thin.” This source is reliable because it is told from a doctor's/psychotherapists perspective of the disease. It informs and broadens my research on the pathological aspect of the disease. Dr. Steven Levenkron uses case studies and specific strategies to explain and help cure the disease.

With Anorexia Nervosa, there is a strong fear of weight gain and a preoccupation with body image. Those diagnosed may show a resistance in maintaining body weight or denial of their illness. Additionally, anorexics may deny their hunger, have eating rituals such as excessive chewing and arranging food on a plate, and seek privacy when they are eating. For women, they go through immediate body changes from abnormal to no menstruation periods and develop lanugo all over their bodies. Characteristics of an anorexic individual also consist of extreme exercise patterns, loosely worn clothing, and maintain very private lives. Socially, to avoid criticism or concern from others, they may distant themselves from friends and activities they once enjoyed. Instead, their primary concerns revolve around weight loss, calorie intake, and dieting. In regards to health, many will have an abnormal slow heart rate and low blood pressure, some can develop osteoporosis, severe dehydration which can result in kidney failure, and overall feel weak (Robbins, 27-29). It has been reported that Anorexia Nervosa has one of the highest death rates in any mental health condition in America (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org).

Anorexia nervosa, otherwise stated as anorexia, is an eating disorder that occurs when an individual restricts themselves from necessary energy intake which leads to significantly low body weight. Other characteristics of this disorder include: intense fear of becoming fat or gaining weight, persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, and disturbances of perception and experience of their own body weight and shape (DSM V, 2013). Effective treatments are still trying to be researched for this disorder, as there is not a “one size fits all” for people of all age groups, living situations, etc. Since adolescents with anorexia are such a vulnerable population,

Prescription antidepressants and antipsychotics have not had much success in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Eating disorder expert Walter Kaye, MD said, “we have not understood the pathogenesis and physiology of these illnesses (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa). Until we do that, it is hard to come up with effective treatments.” He said this in regards to finding more effective treatment options (Kaplan).

This article explored the topic of identifying symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). The Eating Disorder Inventory led a study, conducted by D. Garner, that studied females with AN to classify behavior exclusive to the psychological disorder. The researchers recognized the problem of trying to identify any restrictive manners or detrimental behaviors that could identify a person with AN. The purpose of the research was to find tell-tale symptoms or psychological indicators of AN in patients.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that consists of self-regulated food restriction in which the person strives for thinness and also involves distortion of the way the person sees his or her own body. An anorexic person weighs less than 85% of their ideal body weight. The prevalence of eating disorders is between .5-1% of women aged 15-40 and about 1/20 of this number occurs in men. Anorexia affects all aspects of an affected person's life including emotional health, physical health, and relationships with others (Shekter-Wolfson et al 5-6). A study completed in 1996 showed that anorexics also tend to possess traits that are obsessive in nature and carry heavy emotional

Anorexia Nervosa is a DSM-5 psychological disorder characterized by energy restriction, weight loss and psychological comorbidities. The treatment of anorexia nervosa involves mainly medical and psychological interventions, and new treatments are being researched every day. Re-feeding is known to be the cornerstone, initial treatment. However, the specifics of treatment are not currently defined. Most therapeutic programs resort to a multidisciplinary treatment approach based off of clinical judgment and expertise. Treatment for anorexia nervosa is an ongoing challenge due to feeding complications and extremely high relapse rates. Future research is necessary to establish a gold standard initial treatment plan for anorexia nervosa and to continue finding new, more effective treatments.

Several databases and journal articles have been included in this literature search. Credits for the access to these databases are for the Medical Library of the National Guard Health Services. This Paper emphasize its contents about the prevalence of Anorexia Nervosa among females in general worldwide. So these are the the four terms used in the search: Anorexia Nervosa, prevalence, young adult females, eating disorders. This brief literature search gives the information summary of these databases and journal articles.

AN (Anorexia Nervosa) is the most visible eating disorder, is a serious psychiatric illness characterized by an inability to maintain a normal healthy body weight or, in individuals who are still growing, despite increasing weight loss and frank emancipation, individuals with AN strive for additional weight loss, see themselves as fat even when they are severely underweight, and often engaged in unhealthy weight loss behaviors (e.g. purging, dieting, excessive exercise, and fasting). (Bulk, Trace, Kleiman and Mazzeo, 2014). AN not only has harmful physical side effects but has psychological impacts as well. According to Serpell, Treasure, Teasdale and Sullivan (1998), one of the most interesting features of anorexia nervosa which sets it apart from many other conditions is highly valued in nature of anorexic symptoms.

Background: Anorexia Nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders that are effecting the lives of women all over the world. Anorexia nervosa was first talked about in the year 1684, it wasn’t until the 19th century (1870) that it became known as an illness and medical professionals started coming up with a diagnosis.

Conclusions: Anorexia nervosa was not associated with any other mental disorder except oppositional defiant disorder. Anorexia nervosa has the highest rate of impairment, particularly social impairment. Those with Subthreshold Anorexia Nervosa reported higher levels of suicide plans and attempts than those with fully diagnosed Anorexia nervosa. Median age of onset is 12.3 years which was the earliest of the eating disorders studied. From the study, only a minority (3.4%-27.5%) of individuals with eating disorders had actually talked to a professional specifically about their eating or weight problems. This could be linked to denial of eating problems, shame and/or stigma, or a lack of recognition of eating symptoms by

There are three most common eating disorders that will be discussed in this essay, the first one being discussed is anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is defined as an eating disorder in which people suffer an obsession over their weight and body image, resulting in self-starvation and exaggerated weight loss. Many suffering with anorexia severely restricted the types and amount of food they eat, and often view their underweight bodies as overweight. There are many causes of anorexia as a result of both

Fairborn (2005) points out that there is a range of treatment options and a variety of treatment settings for anorexia nervosa, however there is inadequate empirical support for this abundance of options as what minimal research on the treatment has been inconclusive. One reasoning behind this is that anorexia nervosa has been an uncommon disorder and sample sizes for studies have been low. Furthermore, the lack of evidence based treatment research can be attributed to the individual’s avoidance of treatment and dropping out of treatment. Many individuals with anorexia nervosa are unwilling to change as their identity and self-worth are intertwined with their distorted body image; they tend to deny that anything is wrong with their weight and are ambivalent on changing (Abbate-Daga, Amianto, Delsedime, De-Bacco & Fassino,

At present, it is not uncommon to see young women with some type of eating disorders. On the same hand, it has no longer limited to a specific ethnic group, class, or even gender according to the conventional clinical research (Abrams & Stormer, 2002; Altabe, 1998; Atlas Smith, Hohlstein, McCarthy, & Kroll, 2002; Barry & Grilo, 2002; Botta, 2000; Demarest & Allen, 2000; Goodman, 2002; Gordon, 1988, 1990; Hesse-Biber, 1996; Kolodny, 2004; Molloy & Herzberger, 1998; Nielson, 2000). As stated by The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), women who suffered from anorexia within ten years range from five percent to ten percent whereas eighteen to twenty percent of anorexic will be dead when the disorder was contracted for twenty years. Hopefully, around thirty to forty percent of the patients are cured although the remaining twenty can have a rebound effect.

Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder which consumes the life of individuals who are diagnosed with it. Constantly being paranoid and watchful of food intake leads these people down a path which is hard to deviate from. In order to help patients who are diagnosed with this disorder, clinicians use various methods to try and create lasting positive effects. This paper will discuss these forms of treatment, analyzing what they are and their goals, while in a second part reflecting on myself and treatment in relation to my connection with the disorder. The goal of this paper is to give a detailed account of intervention, while using a humanistic perspective to understand the disorder at a clinical level. Both of these parts combine into an extensive look at anorexia nervosa’s effect on the individual level and how this disorder is effectively treated.