Eating Disorders: I’m Confused About What Anorexia Treatment Is Best
One of the challenges about helping your child with anorexia is deciding which treatment modality is the best for you and your family. As I’m sure you already know there are several options.
Along with each option there are those who will tell you a particular modality is the best option. Some are so vehemently opposed to other forms of treatment they will go so far as to say their treatment of choice is the only option.
I am not condemning anyone who firmly believes there is only one best option. They have a right to their belief and it is probably born of legitimate positive experience. My only goal is to educate you on the different options and then you have to decide what you think is the best fit for you and your family.
Here are the current options available. I have not put these in any particular order. The option at the top of the list doesn’t mean that would be my first choice. Remember, I just want to inform you.
1) Out-patient counseling – This has been the treatment of choice over the last 20 years or so. Some say absolutely this is a waste of precious time and money and in-patient treatment should be the first line of defense. There are situations when this is true, like if your child is medically at risk.
2) In-patient treatment – This has typically been the “last resort” for families because they don’t want to send their child hundreds of miles from home for help. As I stated above, there are those who use it as the “first line of defense” instead of the last.
3) Out-patient treatment or day treatment – This typically follows an in-patient stay so girls and women can make a gradual transition from in-patient to home with added support. There are communities who offer an out-patient or day treatment program as its own entity. A patient can try this first coupled with out-patient counseling.
4) Maudsley or Home Based Treatment Approach – This is becoming an increasingly popular treatment. A therapist works with the entire family and the emphasis is on re-feeding your child at home. Individual issues are dealt with if necessary only after weight is restored. There are some families who do not involve a therapist at all, but many parents benefit from the direction and support of a therapist.
In many cases, the form of treatment you choose is dictated by what is available in your particular area or region. If you are fortunate you will have multiple options. Then you can decide based on what you believe will be the better fit or you can try something else if what you are currently doing isn’t working.
The Maudsley Approach currently has the most research to support its effectiveness with adolescent anorexic clients. You can find this research by putting “Maudsley research” in your Google search engine. There is a lot of information available.
More therapists are seeking training in the Maudsley Approach because of the positive research results. There are also more families seeking this form of treatment every day because of the positive results many families are experiencing.
You may find as you begin talking to people that this is a controversial subject. As I said before, there are some who are adamantly for or against one form of treatment over another. The eating disorder field is changing and when change occurs, there is always favor and opposition.
My recommendation is to research your area and see what is available. Any treatment is better than no treatment at all. Often professionals can point you in the right direction if what they offer is not what is best for you. What is important is to take control of the situation and seek help for your daughter.
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