Eating Disorder or Disordered Eating
Although many of us exhibit disordered eating behaviors and patterns but do not meet the criteria for an official diagnosis in accordance with the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a manual for assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders, people with eating disorders almost certainly experience disordered eating.
It is significant to remember that Eating Disorders always meet the requirements for a clinical diagnosis and have more severe symptoms than non-clinical disordered eating. Several of the behaviors we find in persons with eating disorders, including disordered eating, also occur, albeit considerably less frequently. It’s critical to recognize disordered eating patterns, and those who exhibit them can benefit from treatment.
Orthorexia
Orthorexia Nervosa, which literally translates to “correct appetite,” is characterized by a healthy eating fixation and related restraints. These self-restrictive practices may lead to a severely limited diet overall and the avoidance of foods that are deemed unhealthy.
Orthorexia Nervosa is not a diagnostic in the DSM-5, but because of its problematic eating patterns and detrimental effects on functioning and physical and mental health, it is seen to be similar to other eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa. Orthorexia shares behavioral traits with eating disorders as well as other psychiatric conditions including obsessive compulsive disorder, which can cause malnutrition, strained relationships, and a poor quality of life.
Is orthorexia treatable?
There are treatments available since Orthorexia Nervosa shares symptoms and pathophysiology with Anorexia Nervosa and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The current suggested treatment for orthorexia involves a multidisciplinary team and can be administered with close supervision in outpatient settings. It combines pharmaceutical management, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psycho-education.
What makes cognitive behavioral therapy effective for treating orthorexia?
Several mental health illnesses, including eating disorders, can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, which is supported by scientific research. The following interventions are some examples of cognitive behavioral approaches that have been successful in the treatment of orthorexia.
In order to lessen the patient’s anxiety of a stimulus over time, exposure and response prevention includes exposing the patient to it repeatedly in a safe environment until they become acclimated to it. Once rapport has been established, the client has been informed about the treatment and has given consent, this type of treatment would be employed. The obsessive and compulsive elements of orthorexia may respond best to this method of treatment.
Cognitive restructuring is a strategy used to teach a client how to recognize their unhelpful thought patterns, challenge them, and then swap them out for helpful ideas that will lead to more helpful behaviors.
