Eating Disorder
Q&A's

Q: Is an eating disorder    
     a condition of choice?

A: Absolutely not. Although 
    many eating disorders (ED) 
    begin with behaviors made
    by conscious choice the
    disordered patterns and resulting mental
    distress are often perpetuated by changes
    in brain function and anatomy. Most
    individuals with an ED can recognize the
    significant distress that their ED disorder
    causes in their life, yet they find their ED
    nearly impossible to control. 

Q: Is an eating disorder (ED) a nutritional 
     disease?

A: No. To an observer an ED may appear to be
    fueled by behaviors surrounding food, 
    weight and body image. However, the true
    fuel that drives an ED has a psychological
    source. Further more, an ED is considered a
    psychiatric/medical condition.

Q: How long does an eating disorder last?

A: The average course of an ED is about 5 
    years but can vary based on the individual
    and their treatment program. About 60% of
    individuals can recover fully with the
    remaining 40% suffering from either a
    chronic or deteriorating course of the illness.

Q: How can treatment help those suffering
     with an eating disorder?

A: The goals of treatment are to 1) reduce the
    medical and life threatening risks associated
    with an ED, 2) treat associated psychiatric
    conditions such as depression, anxiety and
    mood disorders to minimize disruptions in
    personal relationships, school, career, and
    social functioning, and 3) to facilitate a plan
    of action towards recovery.

Q: What medical complications
     are associated with eating disorders?

A: Conditions such as bulimia nervosa (BN) and
    anorexia nervosa (AN) can lead to many
    complications such as cardiac conditions
    (irregular heart beats and heart attacks),
    osteopenia (bone loss), seizures,
    gastrointestinal illness (irritable bowel,
    constipation), gynecological issues
    (ammenorea, infertility),

Q: What types of treatment are available for
     people with eating disorders?

A: Outpatient treatment is usually the first step
    in the treatment of an ED. The "Gold
    Standard" of treatment for a clinical ED
    usually is comprised of a team of physicians,
    psychotherapists and nutritionists who all
    have specific training and treatment
    experience with EDs. Patients should be
    meeting with a treatment team member a
    minimum of once a week and may also have
    support from weekly group meetings. In
    severe ED cases with medical complications,
    patients are often sent for inpatient
    hospitalizations for medical stabilization.
    Extended care programs for severe EDs
    include inpatient rehabilitation programs
    which may be hospital based or privately
    operated. These types of programs are
    typically 30 to 90 days or more and are
    intended to begin the process of recovery
    (not cure the condition). Outpatient day
    programs have patients attending intense
    treatment programs during part of the day
    (or evening). Programs vary from 3 to 5 days
    a week and from 4 to 8 ours a day and can
    last from weeks to months. 

Q: When is a person with an eating disorder
     considered to be in recovery?

A: Although technically a person with an ED is
    considered in recovery when they no longer
    meet criteria listed in the Diagnostic and
    Statistical Manual - IV for psychiatric
    illnesses, true recovery is best indicated by
    the patient's ability to report minimal
    distress and compulsive thoughts
    surrounding food and body image issues.
    Many individuals who have had a history of
    an ED may retain certain behaviors acquired
    with their ED such as eating with specific
    rituals or habits and avoidance of certain
    foods without major distress related to
    these behaviors. 

 

Mental Health
Q&A's

Q: Why seek out help from a mental health professional?

A: Mental health ultimately
    determines a person's overall
    quality of life. Two types of
    individuals seek out mental
    health professionals 1) people with an acute
    mental illnesses like depression or anxiety
    where their condition is taking its toll on their
    quality of life, and 2) people who do not
    necessarily have an acute condition but
    instead seek to learn more about
    themselves and further enhance the quality
    of their lives.

Q: What types of professional mental health
     practitioners are available for help and
     who should I seek out?

A: Most of the qualified professionals include
    psychologists, psychiatrists and social
    workers. The professional practice of
    psychotherapy requires advanced training
    and licensing whereas currently there is little
    regulation for individuals claiming they do
    "therapy." Be sure to check for individuals
    with academic training from accredited
    programs, experience in the field, and proper
    licensing and credentials.

Q: What's the difference between a
     psychiatrist and a psychologist? 

A: Psychologists have advanced doctorate
    degrees (PhD., PsyD) in psychology and are
    fully trained in the practice of psychotherapy
    and psychological testing methods.
    A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or
    D.O) specializing in behavioral medicine and 
    mental illness. As a physician, in addition to
    training in psychotherapy, a psychiatrist is
    also medically trained in neurology and
    internal medicine which assists in diagnosis
    and treatment approach including the
    capacity to prescribe medications and to
    order and interpret medical tests. 

Q: How much of mental illness is a result of
     biology and how much is the result of
     stressors in the environment?

A: Most research has demonstrated that
    biology and environment contribute equally
    to the onset of many conditions such as
    depression. Other mental illnesses such as
    bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have a
    more biological basis for symptom onset.
    However many conditions, such as post- 
    traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may have
    had an environmental event take place
    which, due to its intensity or chronicity, has
    lead to anatomical and biological changes
    taking place in the brain and central nervous
    system.  

Q: How long does it take to recover from
     mental illnesses?

A: This depends on many factors. The type of
    mental illness is important (depression may
    be short-term and situational whereas
    schizophrenia is usually a life-long illness).
    An individuals history of illness is important
    (a person with repeated bouts of debilitating
    depression will likely require a longer
    treatment plan than a person with new
    onset of depression). Family history can also
    be important (someone from a family where
    anxiety and panic is severe and common in
    parents, siblings and relatives may also
    require a longer treatment plan). Basically,
    the more biologically based a mood disorder
    or other mental illness is, the more likely it
    will be that a treatment will require a longer
    and/or more aggressive plan.