Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder whose main symptom is the presence of considerable weight loss that often leads to a state of severe malnutrition caused by the patient herself through maintaining a rigorous diet that is accompanied by frequently due to behaviors aimed at weight loss such as self-protection from vomiting, the use or abuse of laxatives or diuretics, intense physical exercise, in addition to the morbid fear of gaining weight. The fundamental psychopathological characteristic that underlies anorexia nervosa is the existence of a distortion of the body image consisting of the patient continuing to see themselves as fat even though they may be in a state of extreme thinness and, it is the existence of this symptom, the that maintains abnormal attitudes towards intake. As a consequence of this extreme weight loss, some of these physical signs appear: presence of dry and rough skin, sunken eyes, hair loss or the absence of menstruation. These signs are accompanied by some psychopathological symptoms such as: states of sadness, anxiety, anguish, irritability or social isolation.
A characteristic of the personality of these patients is the high level of perfectionism and self-demand that they maintain in their lives, which is often accompanied by low self-esteem.
Denial of illness
This characteristic is what, especially in the early phases, becomes the first aspect to work on with these patients, and on many occasions also with the family, since it is difficult to assume the concept of a pathological disease.
This disease is an alteration that mainly affects women; nine out of ten diagnosed cases are women in pre-pubertal, pubertal and adolescent ages.
Many biological, psychological, family and sociocultural factors intervene in its origin.
Puberty and adolescence
These are stages of evolutionary development in which many changes occur in the human being, both at the bodily level and at the psychological level, and sometimes the disease seems to express this difficulty in integrating these changes and in assuming the role of an adult. Also, the existence in our culture of a clear overvaluation of body image to the detriment of other more personal values, plays a fundamental role in the origin of these pathologies.
The treatment to be carried out must be in accordance with the patient's clinical situation, coordinating the participation of the different specialists involved in her treatment. Likewise, the participation of the family is fundamental in the healing process, and although they are pathologies that are complicated to treat, it must be taken into account that the 70% of these patients are completely cured, with the joint work of everyone being what will give place for this healing to actually occur.