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Treatment in anorexia nervosa
International Journal of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Anorexia Nervosa is not a loss of appetite but a struggle for control stemming from personality deficits. Effective treatment requires addressing these underlying issues, not just weight restoration.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Eating Disorders
Background:
- Anorexia Nervosa is often mischaracterized as a simple appetite disorder.
- Patients actively engage in self-starvation, preoccupied with food, weight, and shape.
- This behavior is a coping mechanism for a lack of control and self-concept deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reframe the understanding of Anorexia Nervosa beyond weight and nutrition.
- To highlight the psychological underpinnings of self-starvation.
- To emphasize the necessity of addressing personality deficits in treatment.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of Ian Story Ph.D.'s paper, "Anorexia Nervosa and the Psychotherapeutic Hospital."
- Analysis of the psychological motivations behind anorexic behavior.
- Review of treatment approaches for chronic Anorexia Nervosa cases.
Main Results:
- Anorexia Nervosa is a misnomer; patients do not lack appetite but actively restrict intake.
- The condition is a manifestation of a desperate attempt to gain control and self-concept.
- Traditional treatments focusing solely on weight restitution are insufficient for a cure.
Conclusions:
- Effective treatment necessitates the reparation of underlying personality deficits.
- Neglecting psychological factors leads to the chronic suffering of anorexic patients.
- Psychotherapeutic interventions are crucial for addressing the core issues in Anorexia Nervosa.