Restoring My Complexion

When Is Outpatient Treatment Best For Anorexia?

29 August 2017 by Dylan Owens

If your loved one has been diagnosed with anorexia, then you should understand that treatment is necessary to control the disorder. Anorexia can lead to complications such as low bone mass, heart weakness, kidney damage, and anemia. The disorder can even lead to premature death if treatment is not sought in a timely manner. Both inpatient and outpatient treatments for anorexia nervosa are suggested. Keep reading to learn about some signs that outpatient treatment is a good option for your loved one.

The Condition Is Not Life-Threatening

Inpatient care and hospitalization are used to treat individuals with severe or life-threatening anorexia conditions. Hospitalization is short-term care that involves medical stabilization. Stabilization involved treatment until the vital signs are normal and consistent. Heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration will need to be within normal levels before an individual can be moved out of hospital treatment. Also, the patient must be able and willing to eat on their own. When this is the case, then the patient can be moved to a residential treatment center. 

Basically, any person who experiencing complications in terms of their health should be hospitalized. If the complication is not severe, then residential treatment may be a better option. 

If a life threatening condition is not present and if your loved one wants to receive treatment, then outpatient treatment may be advisable. This is also common if the anorexia problem is addressed relatively soon after you see the first signs of the disease. Outpatient treatment is also most effective when the individual has an active support structure at home. This allows the patient to develop a sense of independence and positive self-esteem to boost self image.

The Ailment Does Not Require Medication

Anorexia is an ailment that is often a co-existing one. This means that the problem occurs along with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder or another type of mental issue. These disorders as well as other are ones that require treatment with medication. This helps to control the mental disorder that can act as a trigger for the anorexia. 

If there is no diagnosed mental disorder, then mood stabilization will ne be part of the treatment plan. This means that your loved one will not need to under the constant care of a physician or psychiatrist. 

While some people can benefit from antidepressants, this is sometimes not necessary and intensive psychotherapy and behavior modification can be the focus of the treatment instead.

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