A multidisciplinary team treatment for patients with anorexia nervosa and their families

This paper describes a multidisciplinary team treatment for acute and chronically ill patients with anorexia nervosa (including low‐weight bulimics) and for their families. A six‐year experience with 90 patients is involved in this sample. The treatment team consists of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, and members of other disciplines. The stages of treatment are: nutritional rehabilitation personalized psychotherapy, return of controls to patients, and follow‐up. The population treated includes many chronically ill patients: 63% have been previously hospitalized; the average age at admission was 23 years; 30% have been ill more than four years. On long‐term follow‐up, 55% are in a normal weight range, 3% are obese, and 41% are below 85% Ideal Body Weight. Many patients continue to have difficulty socializing and have a fear of fatness. The probability of return of menses increases with restoration of normal body weight. A large percentage maintain full‐time schooling or employment despite continued symptoms of illness. Long‐term improvement has been maintained by many patients to varying degrees.