Anorexia nervosa in adolescence

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions. Anorexia Nervosa (AN) represents a particular subtype of eating disorder that is significantly more common in young women than in young men and is the second most common mental health disorder in adolescent girls. It is a serious condition with the highest standardized mortality of any psychiatric condition. Optimal care of requires input from a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) providing collaborative medical, nutritional and psychological interventions, which includes the family, dieticians, consultant psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, paediatricians and general practitioners. AN is associated with a range of physical complications and symptoms including acute complications such as refeeding syndrome, electrolyte disturbance and cardiovascular effects. Outpatient family based treatment is the first line psychological intervention for children and adolescents with AN. Nutritional rehabilitation including weight stabilization and restoration are to essential elements of treatment and early dietician involvement is crucial. Current outcomes for AN are variable and a firm evidence base for many areas of treatment has yet to be established.