Anorexia Nervosa
The syndrome of anorexia nervosa has been recognized in the medical literature as a psychiatric syndrome for more than 100 years. The primary clinical feature of anorexia nervosa is extreme weight loss, which can be life- threatening. ... After much research on eating disorders, this essay will discuss anorexia nervosa in depth my focusing on five major issues. ... Anorexia nervosa is a chronic debilitating illness in which a person demonstrates an altered eating pattern and subsequent weight loss (Kirkpatrick& Caldwell, 2001 p. ... The DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) is a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa that is used in assessing and outlining the guidelines for individuals who may or may not have the disorder. ... In order to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, individuals must meet these specific requirements as outlined in the DSM IV. The term anorexia is of Greek origin: an (privation, lack of) and orexis (appetite), thus meaning a lack of desire to eat (Costin, 1999 p. ... ” There are two major paradigms used in assessing individuals who are suffering from anorexia nervosa. ... The second paradigm used in assessing individuals with anorexia is the cognitive-behavioral model. ... Many types of treatments have been used with anorexia nervosa patients, both individually or in a group. One of the more useful treatment methods for anorexia nervosa is group therapy. ... Someone with anorexia nervosa responds differently than someone with bulimia or binge eating disorder. ... In the case of anorexia nervosa, when weight loss has been significant, treatment with medication alone will not make much of a difference. ... In short, the “drug choice” in anorexia nervosa is food. ... In considering possible new treatments in the future many questions that have come up concern psychotherapy approaches, rather than drug therapy because psychotherapy is important in the treatment of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The possibility of new treatments concerning anorexia nervosa, replicate the use of SSRIs to help prevent relapse in patients with anorexia nervosa, given the high relapse rate for those with this condition and the limited availability of accepted treatments. ... Thankfully, there are numerous interesting possibilities for new research; it is clear that pharmacotherapy should remain a significant research focus in the treatment of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders in the years ahead. Consequences surrounding anorexia nervosa are few. ... The weight loss criterion (loss below “minimally normal weight”) is the hallmark feature of anorexia nervosa, yet the definition of what constitutes minimally normal weight is not clear. ... It has been argued that weight phobia (fear of weight gain) did not emerge as a feature of anorexia nervosa until the 1930s, when the Western cultural beauty ideal and practice of extreme fasting became intertwined. However, Lee, Ho, and Hsu (1993) reported that among anorexia nervosa patients in Hong Kong, weight phobia is frequently absent. ... argued, weight phobia should not be an essential criterion for anorexia nervosa because of its cultural (i. ... condemned the Western diagnostic ethnocentrism on which the cognitive component of the anorexia nervosa syndrome is based because it “obstructs meaningful cross-cultural observation and comparison.” Another controversy that has been mentioned comes from Habermas (1996) who argued that cognitive symptoms disregard the psychological nature of anorexia nervosa and threaten its diagnostic specificity. As such, anorexia nervosa becomes a resident category to describe weight loss resulting from food restriction that is not accounted for by any other known disorder. Moreover, research indicates that inclusion of cognitive symptoms in anorexia nervosa diagnostic criteria may be valuable in predicting the severity of course and outcome. Conclusion: The syndrome of anorexia nervosa has been recognized in the medical literature as a psychiatric syndrome for more than 100 years. The primary clinical feature of anorexia nervosa is extreme weight loss, which can be life- threatening. ... After much research on eating disorders, this essay will discuss anorexia nervosa in depth my focusing on five major issues. ... Anorexia nervosa is a chronic debilitating illness in which a person demonstrates an altered eating pattern and subsequent weight loss (Kirkpatrick& Caldwell, 2001 p. ... The DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) is a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa that is used in assessing and outlining the guidelines for individuals who may or may not have the disorder. ... In order to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, individuals must meet these specific requirements as outlined in the DSM IV. The term anorexia is of Greek origin: an (privation, lack of) and orexis (appetite), thus meaning a lack of desire to eat (Costin, 1999 p. ... ” There are two major paradigms used in assessing individuals who are suffering from anorexia nervosa. ... The second paradigm used in assessing individuals with anorexia is the cognitive-behavioral model. ... Many types of treatments have been used with anorexia nervosa patients, both individually or in a group. One of the more useful treatment methods for anorexia nervosa is group therapy. ... Someone with anorexia nervosa responds differently than someone with bulimia or binge eating disorder. ... In the case of anorexia nervosa, when weight loss has been significant, treatment with medication alone will not make much of a difference. ... In short, the “drug choice” in anorexia nervosa is food. ... In considering possible new treatments in the future many questions that have come up concern psychotherapy approaches, rather than drug therapy because psychotherapy is important in the treatment of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The possibility of new treatments concerning anorexia nervosa, replicate the use of SSRIs to help prevent relapse in patients with anorexia nervosa, given the high relapse rate for those with this condition and the limited availability of accepted treatments.