Anorexia nervosa- how to treat?
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Hello, my friend is a 19-year-old female. She is 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. Please let me know how to treat anorexia nervosa.
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@pawan Emergency care for anorexia may be needed in some extreme cases where dehydration, malnutrition, kidney failure, or an irregular heartbeat may pose imminent risk to life. Emergency or not, treatment of anorexia is challenging because most people with the disorder deny they have a problem -- or are so terrified of becoming overweight that they may oppose efforts to help them gain a normal weight. Like all eating disorders, anorexia requires a comprehensive treatment plan that is adjusted to meet the needs of each patient. Treatment most often involves a combination of the following treatment methods: Psychotherapy: This is a type of individual counseling that focuses on changing the thinking (cognitive therapy) and behavior (behavioral therapy) of a person with an eating disorder. Treatment includes practical techniques for developing healthy attitudes toward food and weight, as well as approaches for changing the way the person responds to difficult situations.
Medication: Certain antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) might be used to help control anxiety and depression associated with an eating disorder. Some antidepressants may also help with sleep and stimulate appetite. Other types of medications also might be offered to help control anxiety and/or distorted attitudes toward eating and body image. -