Anorexia nervosa: a case study

D.R., a single 19-year-old female experiencing anorexia nervosa, was admitted to a mental health center inpatient unit weighing 64 lb, approximately 54 lb underweight, with liver, kidney, and pancreas damage. D.R. was hospitalized for 59 days. Treatment consisted of utilizing a hierarchy of reinforcements in the form of privileges mutually agreed upon between patient and therapist, psychodynamic and supportive psychotherapy, and involvement in the ward milieu therapeutic program. All privileges had to be earned. Access to food was controlled by the staff. For pounds gained privileges were granted, for pounds lost privileges were curtailed. Dynamically, D.R.'s eating behavior was viewed as an unconscious spite and revenge reaction toward her parents as well as an attempt to elicit attention. At the time of discharge D.R. weighed 104.5 lb. Prior to discharge D.R. agreed that if her weight dropped below 100 lb she would return for readmission. Five months later D.R.'s weight stabilized between 102 and 104 lb. Two years later, D.R.'s weight remains at that level. The study cautions against using solely a behavior modification approach in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.