Anorexia Nervosa - Treatment

The general line of treatment is in two phases that can often be merged with each other for effective management.

• Short-term treatment;
• Done to ensure weight gain and to correct nutritional deficiencies.
• Long-term treatment;
• That is aimed at maintaining the normal weight that needs to be achieved after short-term treatment and preventing relapses.

The various methods of treatment include-

• Behaviour therapy - This line of treatment is based on providing positive support (sometimes even negative) to help the patient control the binge eating habits.
• Individual psychotherapy - This therapy helps the patient in -
• Developing self-esteem
• Assertiveness
• Helps them streamline their social skills
• Teaches them how to deal with 'stress and pressure' in life.
• Group therapy and family therapy - This involves educating the patients and their family about the condition and this will include getting rid of current social beliefs about slimming and fitness.
• Drug - It is very important to follow a drug regime along with other treatment therapies. They help in inducing weight gain, decreasing depressive symptoms and increasing appetite. The drugs include-
• Chlorpromazine
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Cyproheptadine
• Hospitalisation. If adequate care is given by ensuring proper food intake followed by controlled weight gain, it can be very helpful in the short-term treatment of the condition.