Eating Disorders and Methods of Its Treatment

Eating Disorders (EDs) are serious clinical conditions associated with persistent eating behaviour that adversely affects your health, emotions, and ability to function in important areas of life. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa. EDs manifests itself unevenly in different cultures. An obsession with being slim is a core feature of the EDs and is mostly concentrated in cultures in which food is multitudinous, whereas, in cultures of deficiency, the idealistic body shape is much more likely to be more corpulent. This suggests that body ideals tend towards what is more difficult to achieve in specific cultures. However, it is important to note that this outset cause is not specific and there could be other causes of the EDs, such as individual risk factors (e.g., self-esteem deficits), dissociation, perfectionism, genetics, lack of internal awareness (an inability to accurately identify states of feelings, including physiological states as well alike fulness or hunger).

One of the methods of treating EDs is by using Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) to the patient. VNS therapy involves a small device that is implanted under the skin of the chest and looks similar to a pacemaker. The method of treating patients with compulsive eating disorders comprises the steps of determining a pre-selected event indicating the need to treat specific nutritional disorders and responding to a predetermined event occurrence using a predetermined stimulating signal. Another method of treating EDs that is going to be discussed in this essay is called a Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The CBT targets distorted thoughts and misbehaviour that supports the symptoms of eating disorders. Currently, CBT is well prepared for treatment 'Bulimia nervosa' with ISP (Interpersonal Psychotherapy) proving equivalent long-term effects.

Talking about the VNS method, the patient's vagus nerve is being stimulated, which is suitable to reduce the effect of eating disorder. For example, a pre-selected event may be a certain level of food intake by the patient over a given time period, or the usual start time of the meal, depending on the patient's circular cycle, or the sequence of each predetermined interval, acknowledging the need for self-healing by the patient by voluntarily initiating the stimulus signal to the vagus nerve. In cases where the disorder is forced eating for excess, the stimulating signal is predetermined to give the patient a sense of satiety. The occurrence of a predetermined event is determined by summing the number of ingestions by the patient within a specified time period. In cases where the disorder is a compulsive refusal to eat (anorexia nervosa), the stimulating signal is predetermined for the patient suffering from starvation or satiety. The invention is directed to apparatus and methods for treating compulsive overeating and obesity, but it may also be used in the treatment of other compulsive eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. The treatment is done by selectively applying specially adapted modulating electrical signals to the patient's vagus nerve using a neurostimulator that is fully implanted in the patient but can be used both externally or even through the skin.

Talking about the CBT method, it is a treatment that is based on an understanding of a people and their beliefs, as well as, their patterns of the behaviour. For the lasting improvement in the person’s behaviour and mood, cognitive behaviour therapists work at a deeper level of cognition (e.g., person’s basic beliefs about life, their world, other people). CBT method in helping patients with eating disorders works similar to the CBT method in other disorders (e.g., panic disorder, geriatric anxiety, social phobia). Cognitive behavioural therapy remains the most effective treatment for adults with bulimia nervosa. Also, a long-term efficacy has been established in cognitive behavioural therapy treatment for adult patients with binge eating disorder. Talking about the comparison of the two treatments (VNS & CBT), it is known that CBT method is used more often to help with eating disorders, however CBT method sometimes cannot provide help for patients with more complicated issues associated with health and eating, and in those cases, the VNS method is able to provide additional help.

The field of eating disorders continues to expand in the psychological treatment, but the assessment of long-term outcomes and treatment options for patients who remain symptomatic are in a critical condition. Continued efforts to incorporate new technologies into treatment and to effectively train, disseminate and implement dietary treatment will increase access to evidence-based care, thus reducing the burden of eating disorders.

References

1. Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond. Guilford press.
2. Kass, A. E., Kolko, R. P., & Wilfley, D. E. (2013). Psychological treatments for eating disorders. Current opinion in psychiatry, 26(6), 549.
3. Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (2002). Causes of eating disorders. Annual review of psychology, 53(1), 187-213.
4. Wernicke, J. F., Terry Jr, R. S., & Baker Jr, R. G. (1993). U.S. Patent No. 5,188,104. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.