TREATMENT FOR ANOREXIA
Treatment:
Treatment methods for anorexia generally follow the basis of talking therapies and supervised weight restoration and weight monitoring to ensure a safety of mental and physical wellbeing. It’s recognised that beginning treatment as early as possible once the issue is detected is crucial to reduce the risk of serious complications and deterioration. Where there has been weight deterioration, more reactionary methods may be used such as hospital and more regular monitoring. Treatment for anorexia varies between adolescents and adults, depending on their residency status and involvement with family. This can influence the type of care provided as its important to recognise and discuss the environment which the illness exists. Each course of treatment is different for everyone, but all should be offered a basic course of care and treatment which can then be tailored to the individuals needs and requirements to help assist recovery.
Impatient treatment VS outpatient treatment:
Treatment will of course differ depending on the treatment setting, inpatient services will offer a more intense therapeutic process, whereas community care is much more steady and more relaxed. The treatment plan which is followed will differ as each facility will offer different therapies. Outpatient facilities allow patient to access therapies and support whilst in the comfort of their own home and the approach will be much more led by the patient. Inpatient care is designed to be more intense to encourage quicker mental and physical restoration so that community care can be resumed as quickly as possible. The standard of care shouldn't differ, but there may be a variety of therapy options both in inpatient and outpatient. Meaning depending on the facility, depends on the therapies which are offered. Some aren't accessible within the community setting and vice versa. The list of therapies used to treat anorexia nervosa is endless. Ranging from family therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, CBT, CBTE, FTAN, EMDR, psychology, work with a support worker, dietician appointments, the list goes on. But it's always important to remember that there is a therapy option for everyone. You can be helped! Therapy is for everyone!
CBT therapy:
CBT is a well-known and well referred to therapy in eating disorder treatment cognitive behaviour therapy which targets challenging and reframing anorexic convictions which result in unhealthy eating behaviours as well as mental and physical deterioration. It is a talking therapy which can help you manage your problems by changing the way that you think and behave. It is based on the understanding that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and actions are interconnected and that negative thoughts can keep you trapped in a vicious cycle. Its aim is to break down big problems and address them in a positive way to compile them into smaller parts. The CBT therapist will help you change your negative thoughts to improve the way that you feel. It focuses on your current issues, and less focus is put on problems from your past which have contributed to where you are now. You will work through breaking down your problems into separate parts which will be analysed to determine their effect they have on you. Then together you can work out how to best challenge these unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. These changes can then be applied to daily life and discussed in sessions. The aim to apply the skills you've learnt through CBT to your everyday life. These managing problems better and not allowing them to affect your life. This therapy is primarily used in adolescent services and accessed by young people to help battle anorexia.
Dietetic input:
Anorexia isn't about food. Food is simply masking a much bigger problem that remains hidden. Which is why it is a mental health illness and not a physical health issue. However, weight restoration and managing a healthy and regular eating pattern is vital for eating disorder recovery. Anorexia nervous is characterised by the struggle to manage a healthy food intake due to strong anorexic cognitions which make this process very challenging. Often resulting in the patient being unable to choose the food which they will eat due to anorexia controlling what it perceives as "good" and "bad" food, the inability to feed themselves without being supported to do so, as well as ultimately fearing weight gain by eating food, no matter how small or appropriate the serving size may be. This may also contribute to weight loss which endangers the individual. Input from a dietician is a vital part of anorexia treatment as food underpins anorexia and can be the sticking point to achieve successful changes to gain a life without an eating disorder. Meal plans are often prescribed as a baseline to meet the patients’ dietary needs. The patients and dietician should meet regularly and alter and make changes when appropriate. Dietary challenges and changes can be worked through with the dietician and once recovery is underway, meal plans can be moved away from. Dieticians can offer psychoeducation around food and help amend unhealthy associations around food. The relationship between the patient and the dietician is one of the most important.
Doctors and Nurses:
Doctors and nurses play a slightly different role within eating disorder treatment and mental health services. Doctors and nurses are trained to take weights, blood pressure along with other medical checks. Psychiatric doctors are most prominent within eating disorder treatment. They are doctors specialised in treating patients with mental health problems. They are qualified to assess both mental and physical aspects of psychological problems. They have a level of understanding for eating disorder patients and can help relay physical health information regarding weight and medical checks to the patient as well as carrying them out. Doctors can take on many roles within a patients care and treatment. Thus, determined by the patient and what's most helpful. A mental health nurse will also be present within a patient’s treatment. They will build effective relationships with patients. Their role can involve advise taking medication, discussing relevant therapies, as well as working through more general mental health issues which are affecting the patient. They are responsible for planning and providing support and medical and nursing care to patients. These individuals help and support for individuals with anorexia and can be vital components in their recovery. By using good communication skills, offering a high level of understanding for anorexia nervosa as well as psychological knowledge, they develop a strong relationship with a patient which allows them to open about what they're struggling with. Talking helps an individual gain understanding of their illness and will feel better equipped and support to challenge it.
Formulations:
Formulations are on-going documents which enables the therapist and the wider multi-disciplinary team to identify strong links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours as well as physical sensations which will enable the patient to get better. It is a provisional explanation or hypothesis of how an individual presents with a certain illness at a particular point in time. It should constantly be being added to and changed as the patient’s treatment progresses and will highlight the journey of events which have led the individual to where they are currently. It is useful in eating disorder treatment as the patient and the illness will always be changing, therefore it helps highlight why and what might have caused this.