Treating Anorexia as Addiction: A Case Study with 2-Years of Follow-Up

Author(s): Boris C. Rodríguez-Martín, María Martín-García, Inés Martínez-Infiesta, Atef Souied-Espada, Paz de La Cruz-Medina

Purpose: The present study aims to report the clinical evolution of a patient with AN, without another substance use disorder, who followed 90-day residential treatment with the 12 Steps Minnesota Model and its subsequent two-year follow-up, during which she regularly attends Overeaters Anonymous (OA) groups.

 Methods: This case report follows the treatment of a 20-year-old female with anorexia nervosa. After 3 months of multidisciplinary treatment, low-doses of venlafaxine and trazodone were initiated. She expressed her decrease in rigidness at mealtimes, increased her weight and had a resumption of menses. She was committed with treatment and maintained her weight gain despite a single binge/purge relapse episode in this 2-year of follow-up.

Results: The results obtained in this case suggest that, although purgative and self-injurious behaviours stopped during admission, weight gain was poor during admission and the first year of follow-up, as well as the reporting of improvements in concerns about her weight: it is not until the second year of follow-up that the patient manages to reach weight indicators that can be considered within the range of the norm. Regarding body shape, even though at the end of the second year she refers to greater acceptance, it continues to be a problem.

Conclusion: In the case of a patient with AN, without another substance use disorder, the main changes produced regarding to weight gain and body shape acceptance occurred in the second year of follow-up, during which the patient regularly attended OA groups.