Selecting Treatment for Eating Disorders
Many different treatment options are available for people suffering with eating disorders. The type of treatment utilized must be decided upon on an individual basis, and treatment generally should consist of a treatment team, including a medical doctor, a psychiatrist, a therapist, and a dietitian. The eating disorder treatment types include inpatient care, residential housing, outpatient care, and group support.
Inpatient
With inpatient treatment, a patient lives in the treatment facility for a certain period of time. The facility has medical doctors, registered nurses, therapists, and dietitians on staff to help patients in recovery on a daily basis. These facilities provide safe environments for patients to work on recovery from their eating disorders. The activities that patients participate in while at the facility can include one-on-one therapy, group support, medical evaluations, spiritual exploration and prayer, meal times, and leisure/social activities. Each treatment center has a slightly different approach to recovery, so a treatment center must be thoroughly researched.
Residential Housing
Residential housing provides the opportunity for individuals to integrate back into daily life after inpatient treatment. Individuals who participate in a residential housing program often have required weekly meetings with a therapist or social worker, dietitian, as well as group sessions. Some programs encourage individuals to participate in volunteer activities or part-time jobs. The goal of these programs is to help individuals assimilate back into normal daily living while continuing with the recovery process.
Outpatient
With outpatient treatment, a patient lives at home but goes to a particular facility or a number of facilities to acquire therapy and treatment. Individuals have the opportunity to put together their own treatment teams and have more flexibility in their schedules. If more intensive therapy is needed but inpatient is not desired, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are available. These programs often provide a number of structured groups and one-on-one therapy sessions to aid in the treatment process. Sessions are often held multiple times during a week.
Group Support
Group support or therapy can be a beneficial addition to individual therapy and counseling. They provide a safe environment for sufferers to realize that they are not alone in the recovery process.
In addition to therapy, many individuals are on medications to aid them in the treatment and recovery process. Common medications include the following:
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Antidepressants |
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Xanax |
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Prozac |
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Klonopin |
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Paxil |
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Anti-histamines |
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Luvox |
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Benadryl |
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Zoloft |
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Atarax |
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Celexa |
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Vistaril |
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Lexapro |
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Anticonvulsants |
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TCA’s (Tricyclic Antidepressants) |
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Depakote |
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Elavil |
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Neurontin |
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Anafranil |
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Topamax |
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Tofranil |
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Zonegran |
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Other Antidepressants |
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Anti-Psychotics |
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Effexor |
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Zyprexa |
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Remeron |
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Seroquel |
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Benzodiazepines |
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Risperdal |
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Valium |
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Abilify |
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Ativan |
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Geodon |
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SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) |
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Anti-Anxiety Agents and Sedatives |
Blood Tests
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Complete blood cell count (CBC) |
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Electrolytes - Dehydration, malnutrition, self-induced vomiting and laxative and/or diuretic abuse can all cause imbalances in the electrolytes. |
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B12 and Folic Acid |
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Blood glucose |
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Kidney function tests (usually done every year) - Performed to determine poor kidney function, kidney disease or the risk of kidney disease posed by some medications. |
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Liver function tests (usually done every year) - Can be important in determining gallbladder disease, liver disease, over-exercising or if a patient has had a heart attack, because of the enzymes that might be found to be elevated. |
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Cholesterol - More common in those suffering with Compulsive Overeating |
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Thyroid function tests - This is an important test to be done initially to rule out any possible problems with the thyroid. This can also be an important test for a person in recovery who may be having a hard time gaining weight (Anorexia/Bulimia) or losing weight (Compulsive Overeating). |
Urine Tests
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Ketones (or Ketoacidosis) |
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Complete Urinalysis |
Other Tests
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Blood pressure reading - for very low blood pressure (Anorexia and Bulimia) or very high blood pressure (Compulsive Overeating). |
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Bone density test - for any bone loss (osteopenia or osteoporosis) caused by calcium, vitamin D and/or magnesium deficiencies, and/or hormonal imbalances (amenorrhea, loss of the menstrual cycle in women, can increase the risks of developing osteoporosis at an early age). |
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Electrocardiogram or Echocardiogram |
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Infertility Testing |
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