Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa: An Optimistic Guide to Understanding and Healing (Developmental Perspectives on Psychotraumatology)

Emotionally and physically devastating, anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness in teenage girls, striking one in every two hundred (boys only make up 10% of all cases). And while there are many books on the subject, most are either personal accounts of recovery or attempts to explain the disease from only one perspective, be it psychoanalytic, behavioral, cultural, or biological. Now, in this much-needed resource, Dr. Alexander Lucas draws on 40 years of experience mostly at the Mayo Clinic to offer clear guidance and authoritative advice on how to overcome anorexia nervosa. Based on his own unique research with thousands of patients, and striking a careful balance between psychological, cultural, and biological approaches, Dr. Lucas demystifies this seemingly irrational disease and guides parents through the harrowing process of recovery. The book defines anorexia, illustrates how it can evolve and how common it really is, and outlines every part of the treatment process, from the early warning signs that parents should watch out for, to the initial evaluation, to specific treatment plans. Dr. Lucas emphasizes the patient's role in defining the healing process, with the support of the family and medical team. Throughout the book, he counsels optimism, stressing that in spite of the destructive power of the disease, most who suffer from anorexia nervosa fully recover and are able to live normal, healthy, and productive lives. In his new Introduction, Dr. Lucas stresses the need for controlled studies of treatment in anorexia nervosa, and reiterates the hard truth that anorexia will always be a complex disorder that takes time and patience to overcome. For anyone seeking level-headed, medically sound, and comprehensive guidance on the most effective treatments for this life-threatening disorder, Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa offers a wealth of reliable, reassuring information. "A clear, informative book for every patient and parent to read and for every physician to recommend." —Lenore Terr, M.D. "A must-read for patients and family as well as clinicians who want a concise, balanced, and up-to-date discussion of the art and science of the treatment of anorexia nervosa." —L. K. George Hsu, M.D.

Emotionally and physically devastating, anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness in teenage girls, striking one in every two hundred (boys only make up 10% of all cases). And while there are a plethora of books on the subject, most are either personal accounts of recovery or attempts to explain the disease from only one perspective, be it psychoanalytic, behavioral, cultural, or biological.
Now, in this much-needed resource, Dr. Alexander Lucas draws on 40 years of experience, mostly at the Mayo Clinic, to offer clear guidance and authoritative advice on how to overcome anorexia nervosa. Based on his own unique research with thousands of patients, and striking a careful balance between psychological, cultural, and biological approaches, Dr. Lucas demystifies this seemingly irrational disease and guides parents through the harrowing process of recovery. The book defines anorexia, illustrates how it can evolve and how common it really is, and outlines every part of the treatment process, from the early warning signs that parents should watch out for, to the initial evaluation, to specific treatment plans. Dr. Lucas emphasizes the patient's role in defining the healing process, with the support of the family and medical team. Throughout the book, he counsels optimism, stressing that in spite of the destructive power of the disease, most who suffer from anorexia nervosa fully recover and are able to live normal, healthy, and productive lives.
For anyone seeking level-headed, medically sound, and comprehensive guidance on the most effective treatments for this life-threatening disorder, Demystifying Anorexia Nervosa offers a wealth of reliable, reassuring information.

"Emotionally and physically devastating, anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness among teenage girls, striking one in every two hundred (males make up 10% of all cases). In this book, Dr. Alexander Lucas offers clear guidance and authoritative advice on how to overcome anorexia nervosa. Based on his own unique research with thousands of patients, Dr. Lucas demystifies this seemingly irrational disease and guides parents through the harrowing process of recovery."--Jacket What is anorexia nervosa? How does anorexia nervosa evolve? How common is anorexia nervosa? What causes anorexia nervosa? The signs of trouble What to expect in an evaluation Making the diagnosis Disorders that mimic anorexia nervosa Physiological effects of starvation and weight gain How is fertility affected? Bulimia, bulimia nervosa and binge eating Treatment Is recovery possible? Can anorexia nervosa be prevented? In a guide to understanding and overcoming anorexia nervosa, a psychiatrist and expert in the field draws on his forty years of experience and research to define anorexia and outline every step of the treatment process. Hilde Bruch called anorexia nervosa a new disease that selectively befalls the young, the rich, and the beautiful.