[Systematized treatment of patients hospitalized with anorexia nervosa]

In-patients with anorexia nervosa are generally treated by two behavioral techniques such as desensitization and operant conditioning. In this work, functional analysis enables a better clinical description of the disorders allowing more specific therapeutic measures. Three patients have been treated according to this procedure. Return to normal of many behavior disorders like quantitative and qualitative restriction of food intake, vomiting and bulimia, has been confirmed by self evaluating measurement. The authors discuss the persistence of body image disturbances, and the need for the association of a cognitive approach.