Anorexia nervosa constitutes amajor challenge to medical practitioners, especially clinicians, due to a high rate of chronicity and a very serious risk of relapse. One of the underlying causes of this state of affairs is the ego-syntonicity of the disorder, which differentiates it from similar conditions, and which is responsible for the patient's denial and lack of motivation for treatment (resulting in frequent instances of therapy refusal or drop-out). The paper outlines different approaches to defining chronic anorexia nervosa. Thisform of anorexia and its therapeutic implications are discussed through the lens of clinicians and other medical professionals. Furthermore, the patients'experiences of chronic anorexia nervosa are described. The dilemmas concerning palliative care for this group of patients are addressed and treatment options and relapse prevention strategies are recommended, with a focus on the latest developments in this respect. The paper is concluded with an optimistic report of complete recovery from this diagnosis, including an analysis of the factors underlying the positive therapeutic outcome.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/118601 | DOI Listing |
J Neural Transm (Vienna)
January 2025
Human Anatomy, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56100, PI, Italy.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) represents an eating disorder, which features the highest rate of mortality among all psychiatric disorders. The disease prevalence is increasing steadily, and an effective cure is missing. The neurobiology of the disease is largely unknown, and only a few studies were designed to disclose specific brain areas, where altered neural transmission may occur.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, and purging behaviors can cause a fatal electrolyte and acid-base imbalance. Routine laboratory testing during inpatient care is essential because these patients often provide inaccurate information about their diet and purging behaviors. However, blood gas analysis for an acid-base evaluation is rarely performed in the psychiatric setting because psychiatrists are not accustomed to evaluating the results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEat Weight Disord
January 2025
Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 15, 10126, Turin, Turin, Italy.
Eating disorders (EDs) pose significant challenges to mental and physical health, particularly among adolescents and young adults, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating risk factors. Despite advancements in psychosocial and pharmacological treatments, improvements remain limited. Early intervention in EDs, inspired by the model developed for psychosis, emphasizes the importance of timely identification and treatment initiation to improve prognosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntibodies (Basel)
December 2024
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy.
: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight, leading to severe calorie restriction and weight loss. Beyond its psychiatric challenges, AN has significant physical consequences affecting multiple organ systems. Recent research has increasingly focused on the interplay between autoantibodies, oxidative stress, and nutritional state in this condition.
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