Anorexia Nervosa Eating Disorder - Essay Example

Disorder Paper: Anorexia Nervosa Eating Disorder April 23, There are several treatments for Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. The research is based on the peculiarities of the weight –related ailment. The research is grounded on diverse treatments. Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder can be cured with external help. Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological eating disorder, characterized as a condition of severe under-nutrition (Misra, 2006). Alexander Lucas explained one of its popular victims is Karen Carpenter. Karen Carpenter suffered from Cardiac Arrest in 1983, succumbing to the pressures of Anorexia Nervosa. The psychological disturbance prevents the patients from looking at their body in a more realistic way. The patient sees her thin body as fat. The patient starves oneself until the body weight dangerously drops lower than the normal weight of the average person, in accordance with one’s height. The psychological problem occurs when the patients starve themselves by taking only water diets, just like what Karen Carpenter did. The body is deprived of its need for solid food. With Karen Carpenter’s death, eating problems, such as Anorexia Nervosa, was scrutinized and well discussed in the press and in society (Lucas, 2004). The patient must do what society requires (to be thin) in order to be accepted (Simpson, 2002). Alexander Lucas (Lucas, 2004;3) emphasized “Hilde Bruch called anorexia nervosa a new disease that selectively befalls the young, the rich, and the beautiful. The widespread publicity that revolved around the disease—anorexia nervosa—in the 1970s awakened us to its existence and made it seem that an epidemic had begun. Some anorexic women are indeed rich and beautiful.” The author mentioned patients of the emotionally dysfunctional Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder include teenage girls living in a family having average income (Goozen, 2004). Many of the patients do not relate beauty with one’s weight. The disorder is third most prevalent chronic illness among teenage women. However the disease also affects women who are older. The disorder cropped up because of society’s impression that “thin is in”. However, starting one self of nutrition can precipitate to osteoporosis, a bone ailment (Golden, 2010). Further, Helen Malson (1998;112) reiterated “The thin body thus sustains a multiplicity of meanings and may signify a variety of (often conflicting) subjectivities. The discursive and physical management of the thin/anorexic body and the discursive struggle over its meanings can thus be understood as a management of identity. The production and maintenance of the thin/anorexic body through dieting, self-starvation and/or purging can be viewed as facilitating interpellation in certain subject positions and as resistance to others.” Furthermore, Patricia McEachrn (McEachern, 1999;141) insists “The social imperative to be delicate was so influential as to render life bitter for those who were unable to conform. A poignant example from the turn of the century is the life of Ellen West, a pitifully unhappy disorderly eater who struggled against herself ceaselessly until her eventual suicide: "Fate wanted me to be heavy and strong, but I want to be thin and delicate." One of the many factors contributing to the popularity of women starving themselves to have a thin body is medical opinion. Medical bulletins and other health information discourage having an obese body. Kelly Brownell (1986;25) opines “The medical and social problems identified with obesity can be manifested in many ways. Obesity may decrease longevity, aggravate the onset and clinical progression of maladies, and modify the social or economic quality of life. On the positive side, weight loss can reverse all or most of the disadvantages of obesity.” There are common symptoms associated with Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. First, the patient does not retain a healthy body weight. Second, the patient has an intense fear of adding a few harmless pounds to the patient’s current thin or skinny weight, having an endless task of achieving the elusive perfectly thin body (Cockell, 2002). Third, the patient perceives her currently thin or skinny body is fat, consequently, the patient continues to deny her body much needed food nutrients. The common symptoms are common when the three treatment alternatives are discussed. The three alternative treatments are hospital stay, using the help of the nutritionist, and seeking professional counseling from the psychiatrist or psychologist. There are different rates of symptom reduction or management in each treatment. The first treatment alternative, hospital stay, has the best the three alternatives. The second alternative, using the help of the nutritionist, ranks last among the three alternatives. The third alternative, harnessing the expertise of the counselor, has a rank that is 2nd among the three alternatives. Similarities in treatments of Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. There are similarities among the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder therapeutic treatments. First, all three treatments involves help from third parties. Second, all three treatments cost money. Third, all three treatments can successfully restore the patient’s former healthy body. Lastly, all three treatments focus on persuading the patient to take more nourishing food to feed a starving, thin, and underweight body. Differences in treatments of Anorexia Nervosa Eating Disorder. There are differences in the therapeutic treatments to the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. In term of description, each treatment differs from the other two alternatives. Nutritional counseling will help the patient to realize that he or she has a problem that needs immediate attention (therapeutic). The nutritionist is a professional trained to give the patient a tailored balanced diet. The diet will bring back the patient’s weight to normal levels. The nutritionist will prescribe the right amounts of food, including fruits and vegetables, to correct the current state of nutritional starvation of the client. The nutritionist’s meal plans normally include the required calories for the patient to reach a more healthy weight level. Next, the patient will benefit from psychological or psychiatric counseling (Cognitive treatment). The psychologist or psychiatrist is a professional trained to help the Anorexia Nervosa patient. The counselor will pinpoint the negative thoughts of the patient that precipitated to the eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa. The counselor can uncover the unwanted feelings that led to the onset of the deadly Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. The counselor will be instrumental in replacing the patient’s negative feelings and negative thoughts with healthy thoughts that will invigorate the troubled patient. The counselor is the right person to persuade the patient how to deal with difficult emotions. The counselor will also help the patient resolve relationship problems. In addition, the counselor can correct the patients’ impression that stress is unhealthy and should be avoided, if possible. The counselor will persuade the patient to use positive ways to harness the stress factors or situations. With the counselor’s help, the patient will be able to face each stress environment with a healthy mind and positive outlook, a hindrance that can easily be pushed aside (Miller, 2003). On the other hand, third treatment of Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder is a visit to the hospital or medical facility (Pharmacological treatment). The medical staff will feed the nutrition- starved body with nutrients. Food nutrients can be fed to the patient using medical technologies. One of the medical technologies is to inject vitamins and other nutrients into the patient’s body. The medical staff can feed the patient using food tubes that reach into the patient’s stomach. The medical staff can let the patient swallow the medical pills filled with food nutrients. The medical staff can also control the time of food intake. With the hospital staff focused on feeding the patient, the patient can sleep tightly as he or she slowly gains weight and her health bounces back to her prior healthy levels. With the hospital admission, the medical team can prevent the distressed patient from pursuing their plans to give up on life and end their weight-based miseries. The medical staff can also prescribe an outpatient treatment for patients who are not in immediate medical danger. Second, the three treatments differ in terms of cost. The hospital stay is the most expensive of the three alternatives. The patient’s family has to pay for the medicines, food, hospital room stay, professional services of the medical staff of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacist, medical technologists, nutritionist, psychiatrist, and other professionals hired by the medical facility. The cost is computed for each day of hospital day. Further, the second alternative, hiring the services of the counselor ranks second in terms of cost. The patient’s family will pay for the two hour or more visits to the psychologist or psychiatrist. Since the family has to only pay for the hourly visits, which is less than the amount paid to the 24 hour day hospital stay of the patient. The cost is computed taking into consideration the amount paid for each day’s treatment among the three alternative treatments. Furthermore, the third alternative, hiring the services of the nutritionist, is the cheapest among the three alternatives. The patient’s family can pay for the one hour visit of the nutritionist. The family can hire nutritionist only once, or twice during a month. Based on the frequency of visits, the nutritionist visit is the least expensive, in terms of cost. In terms of time spent during the treatment of the patient diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder, the hospital stay is usually more than 24 hours. On the other hand, the visits to the counselor (psychologist or psychiatrist) usually start with more than two hours and repeated visits to the counselor. Lastly, the visits to the nutritionist can be finished in an average of one hour and the visits can have only one or two visits during the entire treatment of the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder patient. To hasten each of the above three alternative treatments, Eunice Chen (Chen, 2010) proposed the family is instrumental in ensuring each of the above Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder treatments will end successfully in less time. With the family’s constant prodding and monitoring, the patient will have more chances of surviving the hunger dangers of the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. The family is where the patient initially learned about life. In growing up, the patient normally cries on a family member’s shoulder when personal, financial, or psychological problems arise. The familiar faces of supportive family members encourage the patient to give life another chance, a life where weight is not the major issue, but love and relationships. The family members can guide the patient as he or she gets back to her former healthy weight. The family members will significantly encourage the patient to start eating more fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and other food choices. The family members can spend more time with the patient to ensure the patient will change one’s negative perceptions of weight, food, and society’s weight requirements. Compare measures of effectiveness (validity). The hospital stay is the most effective, in terms of validity. The medical staff will monitor the progress of the patient’s recovery. The medical staff will stay by the side of the patient 24 hours a day, until the patient’s recovery. The patient is under the watchful eyes of the professionals. The professionals include the doctors, psychiatrist, nutritionist, nurse. The patient does not have to prioritize the time of treatment, what to eat, what to drink, and what medicines to take. In terms of nutritionist treatment, the patient is not under the 24 hour watch of the nutritionist. The patient has the leeway to comply with the nutritionist’s food intake instructions. There is a strong probability that the patient may not complete all food intake instructions of the nutritionist. One reason is that the patient is too stressed with one’s weight problems that he or she may unintentionally forget to take the required food prescription as scheduled. The nutritionist’s heartfelt extending of one’s professional help to snatch the terminally ill Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder patient from the approaching arms of death will go down the drain. In terms of the counselor, the patient is not under the 24 hours watch of the psychiatrist or psychologist. There is a high probability that the patient may “fake” his or her answers to the counselor’s questions, suggestions, and other professional advices. The patient may give a fake “yes” to the counselor’s advices on how to revitalize the patient’s weight and focus on life. After the patient leaves the counselor’s office, the patient may not implement or recall the counselor’s professional advice or instructions. The counselor’s serious desire to help the patient goes to naught. Compare measures of effectiveness (efficacy). The hospitalization of the patient is the most effective, in terms of efficacy. The medical staff’s daily overseeing the patient’s progress is very encouraging. The medical staff will be on their toes serving the immediate needs of the patient. The patient is being cared for by nurses, doctors, nutritionists, and other medical professionals. The patient does not have to monitor his own medicine intake schedule, food intake itineraries, and other related Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder rehabilitation steps. In terms of nutritionist treatment, the patient is similarly out of the nutritionist’s watch 24 during the entire treatment period. The patient can easily skip the food scheduled laid out by the nutritionist. The patient is too deeply distressed with one’s weight problems that he or she may unintentionally forget to comply with the nutritionist’s food timeline. Consequently, the nutritionist’s sincere stretching one’s arm to aid in the speedy recovery of the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder patient will be unsuccessfully ineffective. In terms of the counselor, the patient is also not under the 24 hour scrutiny of the psychiatrist or psychologist. There is huge possibility that the patient may not implement the instructions or advices of the professional counselor. After the patient leaves the counselor’s office, the patient may not implement or recall the counselor’s professional instructions. The counselor’s serious intention to aid the patient’s speedy health recovery will be ineffective. Compare measures of effectiveness (symptom and behavior management). The hospitalization of the patient is the most effective, in terms of symptom and behavior management. Similarly, the medical staff’s continued observation of the patient’s recuperation process is very revitalizing. The medical staff has the professional training to ensure symptom and behavior management procedures are in place and functioning well. The patient does not have to prioritize the compliance of all food intake schedules, medicine schedules, and other treatment steps. In terms of nutritionist treatment, the patient is not under the nutritionist’s 24 hour scrutiny. The patient can intentionally violate some or all of the nutritionist’s behavior management instructions when the nutritionist is out of the outstretched arms of the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder patient. The patient is too deeply discouraged with one’s weight problem of obesity that she is too preoccupied to ensure strict compliance with the nutritionist’s food schedule. Consequently, the nutritionist’s health –based exercise to rescue the patient may be ineffective. In terms of the counselor, the patient is not being monitored by the counselor every minute of the day. The patient may violate the behavior management advices of the counselor. The counselor is not 100 percent sure the patient is telling the truth during each counseling session, triggering a wrong counsel or advice. The counselor’s good intention to cure the weigh- conscious patient will be less effective. Compare measures of effectiveness (recidivism). The hospitalization of the patient is the most effective, in terms of recidivism. The medical staff’s nonstop observation of the patient is the most complete and professional treatment, in terms of time spent observing the patient. The medical staff can easily prescribe food, medicine and other treatment procedures to hasten the patient’s recovery. The patient does not have to worry about his food or medicine intake during the hospital stay. In terms of nutritionist treatment, the patient may forget to comply with the nutritionist’s every food instruction. Consequently, the patient’s recovery process is delayed. In a worst case scenario, the patient may not fully recover from the symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder because the patient, either intentionally or unintentionally, violates a few of the nutritionist’s every weight-related command. Consequently, the nutritionist’s intention to hasten the recovery process is avoidably delayed, unsuccessfully ineffective. In terms of the counselor, the counselor may be discouraged to learn that the patient is not serious with the counselor’s advices. Likewise, the patient may not understand the counselor’s real intentions. The patient may not be serious enough to comply with the counselor’s every instructions to implement the weigh loss Program advices. Best Treatment recommendation. Based on my research, the best approach would depend on the each unique circumstances of the patient. If the patient is on the terminal stage of the treatment, the hospital stay is the best remedy. A 24 hour watch will be the best treatment as the nurse will personally feed the patients and professional help the patient back to her or his former gloriously healthy physical state. When the patient is on the very early stages of the ailment, the patient can visit the nutritionist for change of food intake ingredients. When the patient is on the early or middle stages of the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder, the patient must visit the counselor. The counselors can hypnotizingly snap the patient back into reality, far from the patient’s false impression that her or his body weight is fat when the 18 year old patient weighs a dangerously low 80 pounds. Analysis of the neurophysiologic underpinnings of Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. In terms of the neurophysical underpinnings of Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder, Helen Malston (1997) insists that Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder is the result of intestinal, not uterine irritation, complicated by a perturbed state of the nervous system. In addition, some scientists believe that Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder is includes evidences of abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis. In addition, malnutrition dangerously destroys the balanced functioning of the patient’s nervous system, including starving the brain of nutrients, a neurological malfunctioning of the patient’s body. Examine contemporary attitudes toward the three treatments you selected. There are contemporary attitudes toward the three treatments. First Ruth Roth (2010) states that dietitian or nutritionist can assess the patient in terms of financial resources to acquire foods needed that will increase the patient’s weigh. In the hospital setting, Karen Way (1993) mentions some patients comply with strict healthcare food intake requirements, just like a willing and enthusiastic prisoner, to please the medical staff and gain more hospital privileges in a health invigorating environment. Likewise, a one on one psychotherapy session will open the eyes of the patient to her true unhealthy state of being dangerously underweight (Hall, 1998). According to the above discussion, there are many effective treatments for Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. The ailment is resolved by increasing the patient’s weight. There are diverse treatment alternatives to cure the Anorexia Nervosa eating disorder. Without a doubt, the ailment can be cured with external help. 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