Therapy cannot begin until the anorexia patient is brought back from starvation because thought processes and attention are impaired by malnutrition. Once the anorexia patient has begun to gain weight, cognitive-behavioral techniques are the treatment of choice. The behavioral component to the therapy entails using reinforcement to reward the patient's compliance with the prescribed diet. The cognitive portion of the intervention focuses on teaching the patient to identify and change her faulty thought processes regarding food and her body image. Depending upon the patient's age and family status, intervention and therapy may also be recommended for the family to help them learn new ways of interacting.
Topics covered include psychology, development, writing, health, parenting, and personal growth.
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