Anorexia Nervosa Treatment Options
Running head: ANOREXIA NERVOSA TREATMENT OPTIONS 1
Anorexia Nervosa treatment options
Debra L Couchman
Central Methodist University
ANOREXIA NERVOSA TREATMENT OPTIONS 2 Anorexia Nervosa is “an eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss, amenorrhea, fear of weight gain and distorted body image” (Stewart, Schiavo, Herzog & Franco, 2008, p. 311). The National Eating Disorder Association reported that anorexia nervosa affects “1-2% of the population” (Elliot, 2010, p.37). The rate is highest during college years and mostly affects young women. The average age of onset is seventeen, but it is occurring in children as young as six years old (Hamilton, 2007, p. 45). “Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness” (South Carolina Department of Mental Health, n.d.). Unfortunately, most individuals with this disease do not receive the treatment that they need. The main reason for this is that most insurance companies do not cover the cost of treating eating disorders. This student’s stepdaughter has been suffering from anorexia nervosa since she was nineteen years old. Currently, she is twenty-two years old and still in outpatient treatment for her condition. Her parents have already spent over $100,000 out-of-pocket for inpatient and outpatient treatments for her eating disorder because her insurance did not cover any of it. Treatment typically consists of a combination of medical care and psychological counseling. However, support groups have shown recent promise in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. This paper will compare current studies on family therapy, individual outpatient therapy and support group therapy. Fathers, daughters, and anorexia nervosa by J. Carol Elliott: a brief summary. The topic for this study was the examination of family relationships, how those relationships affect women
Anorexia Nervosa treatment options
Debra L Couchman
Central Methodist University
ANOREXIA NERVOSA TREATMENT OPTIONS 2 Anorexia Nervosa is “an eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss, amenorrhea, fear of weight gain and distorted body image” (Stewart, Schiavo, Herzog & Franco, 2008, p. 311). The National Eating Disorder Association reported that anorexia nervosa affects “1-2% of the population” (Elliot, 2010, p.37). The rate is highest during college years and mostly affects young women. The average age of onset is seventeen, but it is occurring in children as young as six years old (Hamilton, 2007, p. 45). “Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness” (South Carolina Department of Mental Health, n.d.). Unfortunately, most individuals with this disease do not receive the treatment that they need. The main reason for this is that most insurance companies do not cover the cost of treating eating disorders. This student’s stepdaughter has been suffering from anorexia nervosa since she was nineteen years old. Currently, she is twenty-two years old and still in outpatient treatment for her condition. Her parents have already spent over $100,000 out-of-pocket for inpatient and outpatient treatments for her eating disorder because her insurance did not cover any of it. Treatment typically consists of a combination of medical care and psychological counseling. However, support groups have shown recent promise in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. This paper will compare current studies on family therapy, individual outpatient therapy and support group therapy. Fathers, daughters, and anorexia nervosa by J. Carol Elliott: a brief summary. The topic for this study was the examination of family relationships, how those relationships affect women
References: Darcy, A., & Dooley, B. (2007). A clinical profile of participants in an online support group. European Eating Disorders Review, 15(3), 185-195 Elliott, J. C. (2010, January). Fathers, daughters, and anorexia nervosa. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 46(1), 37-47. Retrieved from CINAHL with Full Text database. Hamilton, J.D. (2007, March). Eating disorders in preadolescent children. The Nurse Practitioner, 32(3), 44-48 Patching, J., & Lawler, J. (2009). Understanding women’s experiences of developing an eating disorder and recovering: A life-history approach Richards, P.S., Berrett, M.E., Hardman, R.K., & Eggett, D.L.(2006). Comparative efficacy of spirituality, cognitive, and emotional support groups for treating eating disorder Schaffner, A., & Buchanan, L. (2008). Integrating evidence-based treatments with individual needs in an outpatient facility for eating disorders. Eating Disorders, 16(5), 378-392. South Carolina Department of Mental Health. (n.d.). Eating disorder statistics. Retrieved April 23, 2010 from http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm Stewart, M.C., Schiavo, R.S., Herzog, D.B., & Franco, D.L