APA Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Eating Disorders
The American Psychological Association (APA) has published practice guidelines for several mental disorders including Eating Disorders. Eating disorders can be very difficult to treat and many mental health professionals feel uncomfortable with even the idea of treating these patients.
In 2000, the APA released its first edition of guidelines and has recently released a second edition. For a patient diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa the main goals are to: improve eating habits, restore weight to within normal limits, nutrition and normal perceptions of fullness and hunger.
The APA gives specific treatment guidelines, level of care recommendations, efficacy calculations, and best practice guides for Anorexia as well as Bulimia. The guidelines discuss the usefulness of medication as well and at what stages in the patient’s treatment medication would be indicated. For example for Bulimia Nervosa they recommend a combination of concurrent treatments; nutritional rehabilitation, psychosocial interventions (CBT, behavioral, etc) in group or individual, family interventions and the use of SSRI psychopharmacological interventions. For patients diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, they do not recommend starting medication treatment until body weight has been stabilized.
For more information, review the APA Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders by clicking on this link.
In 2000, the APA released its first edition of guidelines and has recently released a second edition. For a patient diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa the main goals are to: improve eating habits, restore weight to within normal limits, nutrition and normal perceptions of fullness and hunger.
The APA gives specific treatment guidelines, level of care recommendations, efficacy calculations, and best practice guides for Anorexia as well as Bulimia. The guidelines discuss the usefulness of medication as well and at what stages in the patient’s treatment medication would be indicated. For example for Bulimia Nervosa they recommend a combination of concurrent treatments; nutritional rehabilitation, psychosocial interventions (CBT, behavioral, etc) in group or individual, family interventions and the use of SSRI psychopharmacological interventions. For patients diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, they do not recommend starting medication treatment until body weight has been stabilized.
For more information, review the APA Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders by clicking on this link.
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