Anorexia Nervosa Psychological Analysis

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Psychological Definition for Anorexia Nervosa Disorder (AND) Anorexia Nervosa is one of the major kinds of eating disorder that people develop by having “distorted body image that causes them to see themselves as overweight even when they are dangerously thin. Often refuses to eat, exercising compulsively, and developing unusual habits, such as refusing to eat in front of others, they lose large amounts of weight and may even starve to death” (Brownell, Hotelling, Lowe & Rayfield, 2011, para. 2). Anorexia nervosa is subdivided into two types, where people place a severe restriction on the food they consume by counting calories and eating food with low calories; they avoid trying new foods, which is why they may prefer eating food with one…show more content…
For instance, high level of anxiety may predispose children to AND, as can depression and mental illness generally” (LeBlanc, 2014, p. 12). Their cognitive-behaviour switches, which then lead to irrational thinking of individuals with AND, for example, I am not thin enough like this “superstar.” They also lack the skills to tolerate negative experiences; therefore, they may turn to this eating habit as their coping mechanism in order to feel relief from the distress they are going…show more content…
Based on the research information, specific treatments or intervention applies to people struggling with AND differently base on the level of development (e.g. children and adolescents, adults). It is noted that the “most effective treatment for children and adolescents with [AND] is family-based therapy (FBT) or the Maudsley Approach, named after the Maudsley Hospital in London, England where the treatment was developed” (LeBlanc, 2014, p. 50). Based on the research evidence, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been proven that people that struggles with AND responds well to this type of psychotherapeutic intervention; in addition to other “alternative psychotherapeutic interventions based on interpersonal therapies, family therapies, or psychodynamically informed psychotherapies” (Sharan & Sundar, 2015, p. 292). In terms of nutritional treatment, “nutrition therapy is an integral part of [AND] treatment and recovery process.” It is designed in a way that will assist “patients in normalizing their eating patterns by eating adequately to meet the body’s daily nutritional needs; a balanced and sustainable relationship with food, free from negative or distorted thoughts about oneself; listening to and trusting [the] body internal cues to determine hunger and fullness” (Nutrition therapy, 2015, para. 1). The medical treatment aspect of AND is not enough to support

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