Anorexia nervosa was first described by Simone Porto O. Portio in the 1500s. In this period, when hunger and asceticism were sacred and encouraged behaviors, this situation, which can be defined as anorexia, meant giving up worldly pleasures for the sake of religion. In later periods, female cases with amenorrhea, loss of appetite, hyperactivity and weakness have been reported, and it has become possible to accept it as a psychiatric disorder in the last 30 years.
Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a severe disorder in the body structure, and it often involves people in the name of being thin. It is a situation that brings people to the brink of starvation. There is a misperception of body image and an extreme fear of being fat. There is a weight loss that cannot be explained by a physical disorder. In order not to get fat, people cut off their food intake without losing their appetite. They experience fear of getting fat and losing control of eating. The anorexic person resists increasing his weight. They hide what they do to lose weight.
Anorexia can have different causes. Genetic, personal and environmental factors are effective in etiology. Psychological effects also increase the risk in genetically predisposed individuals. Growing up with someone who is on a diet also increases the risk factor. In addition, psychological traumas and family problems also facilitate the emergence of the disease. Although it is more common in societies where purchasing power is high but being thin is popular, its rate is also increasing in developing countries.
The two peak periods when anorexia nervosa is most commonly seen are 14.5 years of age and 18 years of age. The desire to lose weight may arise as an attitude against growth, related to and against the pressures of adolescence. With anorexia, which occurs as a reaction against puberty, the person has to constantly resist growth so that growth stops. This effort, that is, resistance to eating to avoid puberty, causes the person to direct all his energy to the behavior of not eating. This usually occurs in adolescence as an avoidance behavior so that the body tries to stop growth by reducing weight. discontinued In order to continue growing, he must continue his non-eating behavior. Personality development and behavioral changes in adolescence can cause psychological conflicts, and as a result, the person may turn to dieting. Cultural predisposition that encourages thinness increases psychological motivation. These factors can be effective to different degrees in people who develop the disease.
In patients with anorexia nervosa, excessive concern with body weight is the visible form of the underlying problems. These patients may experience internal conflicts such as lack of self-confidence, high expectations, inability to express their feelings and needs adequately, and anxiety about separation from family. If the patient is under 18, family therapy is one of the most effective methods. In family therapy, the child is helped to emotionally separate from the family and maintain his/her individuality apart from the family. Older patients are helped by individual therapy. In individual therapy, the patient's needs are determined; He/she is enabled to express his/her feelings, needs and expectations. Since progressive weight loss in Anorexia Nervosa carries a life-threatening risk, the patient may need to be hospitalized. For a healthy treatment, a multidisciplinary team should work and provide both physiological and psychological support.
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