Diagnosis and therapy of eating disorders

Even though there is no convincing evidence that eating disorders in general are on the rise, there has been an enormous increase in "treated" cases of patients with eating disorders. This review will cover important aspects of diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. Psychotherapeutical and pharmacological treatment strategies in anorexia and bulimia nervosa will be discussed. For both eating disorders, psychotherapy is the treatment of choice. Drugs with a serotonergic function, e.g. serotonin-reuptake-inhibitors (SSRI), have demonstrated significant results in the treatment of bulimia nervosa and eating disorders with comorbid depression. In clinical practice "treatment packages" are offered because of the complexity of the disorders. The paper also deals with medical complications of eating disorders, motivational interviewing in anorexia nervosa and treatment with self-help manuals in bulimia nervosa.