In the 21st century, a lot of young people with most of them not being overweight want to be thinner. As a result, they work towards weight loss mainly by skipping meals or dieting. The increased worry becomes an obsession among many youths hence a turning into a severe series of eating disorders. These changes can also be influenced by personal, psychological, social and environmental factors with the adolescents being the most-at-risk group. The main reason for this is that the adolescent age is associated with intense changes that bring about anxiety, confusion, and stress while trying to meet the trending social requirements. To be able to solve the dissatisfaction caused, intense research has been done on some of the strategies that can be used to treat eating disorders. The following is an analysis of some of the studies that have proven effective.
Treatment and strategies
Adaptive function
The journal "A qualitative investigation into anorexia nervosa" reflects on how different patients feel about themselves in line with the disorder. The authors mainly focused on the inner attitude and feelings that affected individuals have but are yet to be understood by the larger society. In this case, a group of participants was asked to address their condition through a letter explaining what they felt about the disease. The primary goal was to develop an adaptive clinical or social function which can be used to reduce the social threats that come along with the disorder. The ability to address the condition either as a friend or an enemy mirrors out the inner complexity of the problem as well as the willingness of the individual to change.
Most people with eating disorders do not receive the best treatment because there is no basis regarding the extent to which the disease affects the inner self of the individual (Marzola et al. 26) In most cases, affected youths have low self-esteem, diminished self-worth, stress, and quest for perfection. The symptoms are severe hence treatment should start from trying to understand the meaning of someone's behavior and emotional reactions.
Clinical findings and significance- based on the study, the letter by the patients represented three main ideas. First, there is the difference feature where youths tend to feel different from the others especially when termed overweight. As a result, these patients are characterized by self-hatred especially when is social settings. Therefore, a hypothesis is raised in that treatment of the disorder while reflecting on the inner perspective can help overcome the worthless feeling. Secondly, there is the idea of a personal company where teens become protected or excluded from others. For the majority of youths, the problem tends to raise a threatening feeling of loneliness and maturity fear. Thirdly, eating disorders can create a form of identity in that some people have an inner perspective of entirely being represented by then illness.
The treatment procedure involves getting in touch with the inner self of the patients and helping them overcome the unresolved needs. An example is when an adolescent visits the mother after a while and reveals that she is binged. In this case, it would be a mistake if the therapist addresses the relationship between mother and daughter. Instead, treatment starts by investigating how the patients feel both before and after the binge. The adaptive function is essential in that it minimizes cases of treatment resistance. The reason is that the inner perspective of the individual is detected before the application of treatment procedures.
E-therapy technique
The focus of this clinical practice is to provide a plan that can be used for incorporating technology in the medical field. The journal "E-therapy in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders" by Loucas, Christina et al. mainly focuses on the widespread use of mobile apps in the addressing prevailing health challenges. The technique used in the study had presently being used by the United Kingdom National Institute for Health in a study involving weight concern and drive for thinness.
The research about e-therapy still underway in that it depends on the technology trends in the IT business sector. However, it is expected that in the next ten to twenty years, clinicians will need to access up-to-date information and guidance regarding the use of utility based interventions (Loucas et al. 127). Based on the study, approximately fifty percent of the world youths are using smartphones hence can be in a position to deploy the mHealth apps.
Clinical findings and significance- the results of the clinical practice showed that smartphones could increase access to treatment for people with bad eating habits. The idea is enacted in that the apps act as an adjunct to standard therapy. The apps allow patients to access treatment at an individualized pace while creating an inner feeling of personal control. At some point, technology also addresses the limitations of current methods of treatment by applying the aspect of self-monitoring towards behavioral change. Additionally, the apps use the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) recording approach. In this case, users can generate self-reports regarding their progress which promotes real-time monitoring.
The accessibility of apps is beneficial as compared to other methods in that it addresses the issues of cost and confidentiality. Additionally, there is a shortage of specialist majoring in the treatment of the disorders hence patients are motivated to use the mobile apps as compared to seeking a local trainer. Increased rate of smartphone use among the youths promotes the efficacy of mobile-delivered eating disorders interventions.
Psychological treatment methods
No one would argue with the statement that students and youths with eating disorders should receive the best possible form of care. The good news is that the problem can be entirely addressed while eliminating the observable symptoms. However, it is important to note that everyone is unique and treatment decisions are best made when the client's needs are considered. The authors, Kass " Denise Wilfley in their article "Psychological treatments for eating disorders"
address the idea of psychological treatment as one of the most effective modes of treating poor eating habits. The aim of the study is to find an effective non-medical method of treatment for the condition.
Intervening with school children represents an ideal target in that most eating disorder problems are evident in the adolescent stage (Kass " Denise 549) There are many different forms of psychological treatment which may include family therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavior treatment and psychodynamic therapy. For school children and teenagers, family therapy works best in that the society members work together as a team to directly address a child behavior.
Clinical finding and significance- the study revealed that in a span of six to twelve months of follow up, patients could gain control of their eating behaviors. The technique starts by examining moderators and mediators to help determine whom and how treatments appear to be most effective. Psychotherapy can involve significant time in that the process aims at influencing the way people feel and think about themselves and the world around them. Attaining the goal of being in control of personal feeling and thinking means that individuals are in charge of their behaviors. The main advantage of using this method is that it t some point applies self-help approaches that are favorable and user-driven.
Conclusion
Seeking professional help is the first step towards recovery from an eating disorder. The reason is that there are different approaches to treatment hence a decision-making process is involved. However, since no method is considered superior for everyone, it is essential to find the option that works best. Although the problem can affect people of all ages and race, the youths are at a higher risk in that they are more vulnerable to influence by psychological, environmental and social factors. Motivational considerations should also be made while formulating the treatments plans in that it is often that people tend to fall back into their old patterns while trying to make changes in life. Motivations mainly aim at acknowledging both the benefits and challenges of change. With eating disorders, professionals work towards helping the patients situate their behavior within the context of specified values and goals. Some of the expected benefits of treatment and change include more self-confidence, increased attention, ability to regulate emotions and gaining a stronger sense of control over one's life.
Work cited
Kass, Andrea E., Rachel P. Kolko, " Denise E. Wilfley. "Psychological treatments for eating disorders." Current opinion in psychiatry
26.6 (2013): 549.
Loucas, Christina E., et al. "E-therapy in the treatment and prevention of eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Behavior research and therapy 63 (2014): 122-131.
Marzola, Enrica, et al. "A qualitative investigation into anorexia nervosa: The inner perspective." Cogent Psychology 2.1 (2015): 10-79.
