Anorexia Nervosa Etiology, Treatment, and Related...

This paper was designed to discuss several basic topics regarding anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is and eating disorder with an incredibly high mortality rate characterized by low body weight and an obsessive fear of becoming overweight that occurs primarily in females after puberty, yet before the age of 40 years. Unfortunately, Not much is known about the causes of anorexia nervosa, but possible correlations are blood relation to a person suffering from anorexia nervosa, those who have recently experienced a stressful event, a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder in childhood, or participation in a culture or profession that values thinness. Due to the mystery of the true causes of the disorder, the†¦show more content†¦Once a person has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, the treatments typically involve intense hospital stay programs which are usually at least ten weeks long. These programs are usually effective in both the restoration of weight to the patient as well as the decrease in depression and obsessive compulsive tendencies. However, this type of treatment is discouraged by most medical insurance plans because of the length of the hospital stay as well as the cost. Consequently, this aspect of anorexia nervosa along with the possible causes, are traditionally the most common topics of research regarding anorexia nervosa (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Two main areas of research to speed up the treatment time of anorexia nervosa have been explored. These areas are developing more efficient outpatient programs, and the development of medications to restore weight and decrease obsessive and d epressive symptoms in individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa. In the experiment, â€Å"Olanzapine in the Treatment of Low Body Weight and Obsessive Thinking in Women with Anorexia Nervosa: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial†, the drug olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug with a reported side-effect of weight gain was prescribed to patients along with a traditional ten week day hospital program. The results of thoseShow MoreRelatedEating Disorders : Anorexia Nervosa1493 Words   |  6 Pages408 Hernandez Illness Paper – Anorexia Nervosa February 28, 2016 According to the Mayo Clinic (2016), eating disorders are â€Å"conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions, and your ability to function in important areas of life.† One such eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. 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