Post by Mel on Dec 22, 2005 22:10:59 GMT -5
Treatment
Successful treatment of, and recovery from, anorexia is possible, but it can take many years. The earlier intervention arrests the course of the disease, the more successful the treatment is likely to be. Anorexia nervosa has the highest death rate of all mental illnesses, with as many as 20% of anorexics eventually dying of complications of the disease, usually from heart/organ failure or low levels of potassium. Once an anorexic reaches a certain weight, death becomes a very real possibility. The BMI (or body mass index) where this starts becoming a danger is generally around 12 to 12.5.(As a point of reference, a normal BMI is between 19 and 23, most "centerfold" models have a BMI of 18, and most fashion models come in at 17. An anorectic BMI is usually defined as being below 17.5.)
Health care providers
Approaches include hospitalization, psychotherapy, specialised anorexia treatment-centres, and family counseling. The prescription of psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants is also practiced. Support groups such as Overeaters Anonymous, which deals with eating disorders in general, can also be helpful.
Appropriate treatment of any present vitamin and dietary-mineral deficiencies, particularly in the common case of zinc deficiency, may be highly beneficial to the sufferer's mental and physical well being.
Anorexia is notoriously hard to treat, with sufferers often either emphatically denying that they are ill or paradoxically, accepting that they have anorexia, but seeing nothing wrong with their "lifestyle choice". This latter view is evidenced by the growing number of "pro-ana" websites and discussion groups where self-identified "anorectics" come together to reinforce their beliefs and behaviours, creating a positive feedback loop.
Another difficulty in treating anorexia nervosa is the prevalence of relapse. For some people, anorexia may be a chronic disease. In a study, within two years of hospital discharge, 35% of former anorexics had relapsed into anorexia. The greatest risk for a relapse was anywhere from six to seventeen months after discharge.
Anorexia is one of the most expensive illnesses to treat, with adequate care for the disease costing well over $100,000. Because of the high mortality rate of the disease, this is seen as a cost effective solution. Unfortunately, lengthy hospitalization is required to treat the disease adequately and many health care providers will not pay for adequate care. Hospitalization stays of 45 days are recommended for effective treatment, yet the usual stay that healthcare providers will pay for is 7 days, along with half the adequate amount of psychotherapy which is recommended.
Successful treatment of, and recovery from, anorexia is possible, but it can take many years. The earlier intervention arrests the course of the disease, the more successful the treatment is likely to be. Anorexia nervosa has the highest death rate of all mental illnesses, with as many as 20% of anorexics eventually dying of complications of the disease, usually from heart/organ failure or low levels of potassium. Once an anorexic reaches a certain weight, death becomes a very real possibility. The BMI (or body mass index) where this starts becoming a danger is generally around 12 to 12.5.(As a point of reference, a normal BMI is between 19 and 23, most "centerfold" models have a BMI of 18, and most fashion models come in at 17. An anorectic BMI is usually defined as being below 17.5.)
Health care providers
Approaches include hospitalization, psychotherapy, specialised anorexia treatment-centres, and family counseling. The prescription of psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants is also practiced. Support groups such as Overeaters Anonymous, which deals with eating disorders in general, can also be helpful.
Appropriate treatment of any present vitamin and dietary-mineral deficiencies, particularly in the common case of zinc deficiency, may be highly beneficial to the sufferer's mental and physical well being.
Anorexia is notoriously hard to treat, with sufferers often either emphatically denying that they are ill or paradoxically, accepting that they have anorexia, but seeing nothing wrong with their "lifestyle choice". This latter view is evidenced by the growing number of "pro-ana" websites and discussion groups where self-identified "anorectics" come together to reinforce their beliefs and behaviours, creating a positive feedback loop.
Another difficulty in treating anorexia nervosa is the prevalence of relapse. For some people, anorexia may be a chronic disease. In a study, within two years of hospital discharge, 35% of former anorexics had relapsed into anorexia. The greatest risk for a relapse was anywhere from six to seventeen months after discharge.
Anorexia is one of the most expensive illnesses to treat, with adequate care for the disease costing well over $100,000. Because of the high mortality rate of the disease, this is seen as a cost effective solution. Unfortunately, lengthy hospitalization is required to treat the disease adequately and many health care providers will not pay for adequate care. Hospitalization stays of 45 days are recommended for effective treatment, yet the usual stay that healthcare providers will pay for is 7 days, along with half the adequate amount of psychotherapy which is recommended.