Anorexia Nervosa

Term Paper # 100030

Medical and Health > Eating Disorders
Psychology > Disorders
Psychology > Therapies

Anorexia Nervosa

A discussion of the history and treatment options for anorexia nervosa.

1,021 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the history and treatment of anorexia nervosa. It begins by analyzing its history and development since the times of Aristotle. The paper then looks at the predominant contributing factor to anorexia nervosa over recent decades - that of the mass media. Finally, the paper discusses the treatment options for anorexia - intensive inpatient programs, residential or partial hospitalization programs and various outpatient programs.

Table of Contents:
History
Treatment
Appendix
Charts and Tables

From the Paper:

"To prevent relapse of the disorder, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is used. It is also common for clinicians to also make use of interpersonal and/or psychodynamically oriented individual or group psychotherapy to prevent relapse (Anonymous, 2006). "Because of anorexia nervosa's enduring nature, psychotherapeutic treatment is frequently required for at least 1 year and may take many years" (Anonymous, 2006, p. 8). Provided they have a good grounding in psychotherapy the patient may find support in 12-step groups such as Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous or Overeaters Anonymous. These groups are often affiliated with the treatment program. The use of psychotropic medications after discharge is based on the individual patient's needs and their initial clinical presentation."

Sample of Sources Used:

Anonymous (2006). Treatment recommendations for patients with eating disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 163 (7), 5-55.
Bergh, C. & Sodersten, D. (1998). Anorexia nervosa: Rediscovery of a disorder. The Lancet, 351 (9113), 1427-1429.
Harris, M. & Cumella, E. (2006). Eating disorders across the life span. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 44 (4), 20-26.
Powers, P. (1998). Anorexia nervosa: The historical and cultural specificity. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 155 (4), 571.