The Need for Multidisciplinary Approach in the Treatment of Eating Behaviour Disorders of the Young Population

Abstract

Eating behavior disorders represent deviations from the normal eating quantity and rhythm of an individual, which lead to hydro-electrolytic disorders, metabolic illnesses, psychic disorders or even exitus, as it is the case of anorexia nervosa, unless measures are taken in view of a prompt correction of eating disorders. Eating behavior disorders (EBD) are represented by anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The former may lead to exitus within several months if the food privation is non-selective and includes vitamin drinks (juices) – in this case, family has a decisive role in timely noticing and intervening for hospitalization, providing specialized psycho-emotional assistance; bulimia generates serious hydro-electrolytic disorders and severe devitaminization, with possible occurrence of metabolic illnesses, depressive psychosis and even of suicide. We should underline the fact that both EBD illnesses are triggered by a distress, considered to belong to the “mourning period”: parents’ divorce, separation from a lover, death of a family member. The study is a prospective, non-randomized, open one. The DSM-IV questionnaire proposes the following research criteria: more than two recurrent episodes of eating frenzy (bulimic crises) per week, during a six-month period. The cognitive-behavioral evaluation has three stages: • Behavioral restructuring • Cognitive restructuring • Organizing the patients in stress-management and self-esteem groups.