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- Evaluation prior to being placed in an Eating Disorder (ED) Program is vital.
- In the past, it was common to diagnose a patient for one issue, while paying no mind to another that may have worked in conjunction to it.
- In more recent times, however, it has been hypothesized that chemical dependency and eating disorders may have a correlation, thus increasing information on the topics, and conversely- reducing the number of cases which go improperly diagnosed as simply being one or the other.
- In a study it was found that “nearly half of 73 eating disorder relapse patients had a previous chemical dependency (Peck).”
- There is a wide range of variables that are taken into account when considering the onset of an eating disorder on a specific person
- Importance of individualizing each program to each person.
- Discuss in order of progression: the development, diagnosis, and lastly its treatment.
The Development:
- First, it is essential to address the many factors that lead to such extreme methods of dieting, which include many societal factors.
- The romanticizing of anorexia.
- Hornbacher writes, “because I was not visibly sick, the very picture of sick, because I did not warrant the coveted title of Anoretic, I was embarrassed (153).”
- In a scholarly publication, Goodwin writes that bulimics “are usually of normal body weight and display instead of successful self-starvation as in anorexia nervosa, binge eating with compensatory behavior such as vomiting or purgative abuse (249).”
- Possible catalyst- Current stressors, biochemical predispositions, or societal predispositions- and cause the onset of an eating disorder.
- Misconception that thinness equates wealth, success, and most importantly, happiness
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Diagnosis
- The first step towards being properly diagnosed is admitting to yourself that you have an Eating Disorder.
- individual therapy
- nutritional support
- psychiatric care
- group therapy
- outpatient
- inpatient,
- residential
- initial evaluation of the situation
- the patient’s history will be reviewed,
- Current symptoms
- current physical status
- Other current psychiatric issues or disorders present.
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Treatment :
Highly dependant on the individual.
Deemed most effective to treat an Eating Disorder with psychotherapy or psychological counseling in combination with medical and nutritional support.
Day hospital care provides structured eating situations and active treatment interventions while allowing the individual to live at home and in many continue to work or to attend school.
Inpatient Care, on the other hand, provides a structured environment where the client has access to clinical support 24-hours a day.
Residential programs provide long term treatment for those with eating disorders.
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Conclusion:
Treatment as well as recovery is possible, but having a long-set eating disorder causes long-term effects on your body physically as well as psychological.
ANRED states that “with treatment, about sixty percent (60%) of people with eating disorders recover.”
There are higher risks within certain diseases, varying degrees of general frailty, weakness and fatigue. |
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