The emergence and treatment of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. A comprehensive and practical model

The objective was to propose and describe a new bio-psycho-social model of emergence and maintenance of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and demonstrate its application to treatment. An original model, based on literature review and our own clinical experience, was created. Therapeutic guidelines were derived from the theoretical model and applied in the treatment of 97 anorexia and bulimia nervosa patients presented at the eating disorders unit at Kaplan Hospital in Israel over 18 months. A team comprising a pediatrician, a child psychiatrist, a dietician, and trained nurses collaborated in a comprehensive systemic therapeutic approach involving parents, schools, and community agents. RESULTS: Ninety-one girls and six boys were treated in the eating disorder unit (55 had AN, 29 had BN and 13 had EDNOS). Thirty-seven patients were hospitalized and sixty were treated in the outpatient clinic. Mean hospitalization time of the first five patients was 108 days. Mean hospitalization time of the remaining 32 patients was reduced to 32 days. The mean number of outpatient clinic interventions was 12. At the one-year follow up, 74 patients were doing well in all respects. Fourteen patients still needed a lot of supervision in eating. Five are still hospitalized and four were lost to follow up. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed model proves to be more than just another theory in that it is successfully applied in treatment. Short systemic therapy is very effective. The longer the delay in drastic, aggressive treatment, the worse the prognosis. Extended hospitalization periods worsen the prognosis. Weakness of the parental unit is a strong indication for inpatient care. The longer the experience in treating eating disorders, the shorter the hospitalization and number of interventions.