If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder An Essential Resource for Parents

by Walsh, B. Timothy; Cameron, V. L.

• ISBN13: 9780195181524
• ISBN10: 0195181522
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-10-27
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

"This guidebook offers parents clear definitions of what an eating disorder is, how to recognize its symptoms, and what to do about them. Targeting anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and touching on binge eating disorder, authors B. Timothy Walsh and V. L. Cameron explain the challenges of getting an adequate diagnosis, and offer guidance in obtaining the right treatment for each disorder. The book combines the latest scientific expertise and research findings available on these illnesses with the practical wisdom of parents who have experienced these disorders in their children."--BOOK JACKET.

Author Biography

B. Timothy Walsh, M.D. is Ruane Professor of Pediatric Psychopharmacology in the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia University and founder of the Eating Disorders Research Unit at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He was chair of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative's formal Commission on Eating Disorders, a blue ribbon panel of leading authorities convened in 2003 to assess the current research on these disorders; the findings of Dr. Walsh's commission make up the scientific foundation of this book. V. L. Cameron is a freelance writer based in New York City.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
Introduction: Not Just a Diet	1	(7)
Understanding Eating Disorders: What They Are and What to Expect	8	(51)
Anorexia Nervosa	8	(8)
Bulimia Nervosa	16	(4)
Binge Eating Disorder	20	(2)
Eating Disorders in Males	22	(2)
What Does a DSM Diagnosis Mean?	24	(8)
How Common Are Eating Disorders in Adolescents?	32	(4)
What Causes Eating Disorders and Who Is at Risk?	36	(10)
What Other Conditions Can Coexist with Eating Disorders?	46	(4)
The Dangers of Doing Nothing	50	(6)
Future Prospects	56	(3)
Getting the Right Treatment for Your Child: Therapy, Medication, and More	59	(46)
Finding Treatment: Where to Begin	60	(2)
What Does Treatment Involve?	62	(7)
Where Will Treatment Take Place?	69	(4)
Psychological Treatments	73	(13)
Medication	86	(8)
Relapse Prevention	94	(5)
Navigating the Health Care System	99	(6)
Daily Life with the Teen Who Has an Eating Disorder	105	(28)
Getting the Teen to Treatment: Communication and Persistence	107	(11)
Treatment and Recovery: Staying the Course, Staying Strong, Staying in Touch	118	(12)
Finding Support from Other Parents	130	(3)
Preventing Eating Disorders	133	(24)
Prevention Approaches	136	(4)
Does the Treatment of Obesity Increase the Risk of Developing an Eating Disorder?	140	(7)
What Parents Can Do to Help Prevent Eating Disorders	147	(10)
Conclusion: A Call for Action	157	(6)
Glossary	163	(4)
Resources	167	(8)
Books and Other Materials	167	(1)
Resources for Information, Support, and/or Treatment Referrals	168	(7)
Bibliography	175	(2)
Index	177