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Effectiveness of Psychotropic Medications: How Long Will I Need to Be on Medication?
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
Eating disorders are complex illnesses that arise from multiple different factors. Perhaps one of the most damaging stigmas believed about eating disorders is that these are diseases of “vanity”, developing from a desire to change one’s appearance.
However, this could not be farther from the truth. Individuals who develop an eating disorder do not choose to have an eating disorder any more than a person would choose to have any other disease.
Many biological factors influence these disorders, including genetics, neurobiology, and more.
A Comprehensive Treatment Approach
It is not uncommon for individuals with eating disorders to also have other mental illnesses co-occur alongside the eating disorder. This might include substance abuse addiction, a mood disorder, a personality disorder and more. Treatment for eating disorders should involve a multidisciplinary approach to address the many complexities that may present.
This might include a psychiatrist, general physician, therapist, and more. Treatment modalities should also be comprehensive to help a person recover from the many different effects and root causes of an eating disorder. This might involve psychological interventions, medical nutrition therapy, and pharmacological management.
A number of research studies have confirmed the effectiveness of various medications for the therapeutic treatment of eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Depending on the type of eating disorder present and the presence of any other mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. a psychiatrist may recommend the use of a medication for eating disorder recovery, such as an anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, appetite suppressant or anti-emetic or other such medication.
Medication management has been demonstrated to be most effective when used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) or interpersonal therapy [1]. This enforces the idea of an interdisciplinary approach with eating disorder recovery.
Working With a Treatment Team
The idea of being on medication for any period of time can be overwhelming for some individuals in recovery for an eating disorder. Some recommended medications may be for a long period of time, while other medications may be given for a shorter duration.
Again, this is dependent on many different and individualized factors, which will be taken into consideration by the prescribing physician.
Always be sure to address any medication concerns with your treating physician and treatment team, such as possible side effects and recommend course of treatment. When used in conjunction with therapy, medication management can be effective in treating many of the various side effects experienced with eating disorders.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
How has medication been a helpful part of your recovery?
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
References:
[1]: American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fourth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc; 1994.The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on September 18, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
