Eating Disorders: A Guide to Medical Care and Complications

Eating disorders present diagnostic and treatment challenges to clinicians. While such disorders need both medical and psychological treatment, patients may be too medically ill for a thorough psychiatric evaluation and may be misunderstood by many primary care physicians. In this revised and updated edition of Eating Disorders, Philip S. Mehler and Arnold E. Andersen provide a user-friendly and comprehensive guide for primary care physicians, mental health professionals, and others who encounter individuals with the problem. Mehler and Andersen identify common medical complications that people who have eating disorders face and answer questions about how to treat them. They also cover such serious complications as osteoporosis, cardiac arrhythmia, electrolyte abnormalities, immune compromise, and gastrointestinal sequelae. Incorporating case studies, medical background on the complications, suggestions for diagnosis and treatment, and a list of selected references, chapters cover important topics including team treatment and nutritional rehabilitation. The authors also address special areas of concern, such as athletes who have eating disorders and the pharmacologic treatment of obesity. Mehler and Andersen encourage close medical follow-up for patients who have eating disorders. This book will help primary care and mental health professionals to understand and to more effectively address the complex concerns of patients with eating disorders.