Treatment
Anorexia nervosa can be fatal and should be treated as soon as possible. Time
factor plays an important role as without treatment the disorder may give rise
to various other medical complications. The treatment may vary for different
individuals depending on circumstances and may include psychotherapy, drug therapy,
family therapy, group therapy etc. The overall treatment aims to help a patient
to retain a normal weight, to develop normal eating habits and to change his/her
behavior and way of thinking.
If diagnosed in early stages (when weight loss is minimal) anorexia nervosa
patients may be treated without being hospitalized. However people with more
serious problem who have undergone extreme weight loss may need to be admitted
to a hospital. Health professionals who are involved in the treatment include
physicians, psychologists, nutritionists and psychiatrists.
Psychotherapy proves to be quite effective in the treatment of anorexia nervosa
and deals with underlying emotional issues. It helps a patient in regaining
a certain kind of mental balance and can lead to restoration of weight. Family
support for a patient is a must especially in youngsters to help change their
behavior and way of thinking. In group therapy, patients get a chance to share
their experiences with other people facing similar problems. This is basically
a self-help strategy to make a patient mentally strong so that he/she can cope
with feelings of fear and stress.
In serious cases where the patient has undergone extreme weight loss the first
stage of treatment focuses on immediate weight gain. For non-cooperating patients
intravenous feeding may be required. Feeding is reintroduced very carefully
and a gradual weight gain of two to three pounds per week is considered safe.
Anti-depressants are commonly prescribed as treatment for anxiety and depression
that are usually associated with anorexia nervosa. Severe malnutrition can cause
electrolyte abnormalities in the body and patients may require calcium, sodium
and phosphate supplements for their replenishment.
