Hilde Bruch describes in, "Anorexia Nervosa and its Differential Diagnosis," how anorexia nervosa has had confusion with its diagnosis. Bruch states that the definition of anorexia nervosa is, "self inflicted starvation without recognizable organic disease and in the midst of ample food (104)." Where the confusion takes place for this condition, is the desire to be thin whereas the loss of weight is associated with other psychiatric conditions. The article is based off of research done from 1942-1964 with a total of 43 patients (37 females, 6 males). The goal of this study for Bruch, was to see if this condition should be separated from other psychiatric conditions, and what the treatments would be.
After the study was completed, there were three psychological syptoms that showed obvious signs of anorexia nervosa. The first was a disturbance in the body image and body concept of delusional proportions. What is said no be normal and morally right is ignored and absent to the patient. The second sign was failure to recognize signals within the body, for instance nutritional need. After losing so much weight, patients would fail to notice emotions and feelings along with other bodily states. The third and final observation was patients not doing anything because they want to, but only as a response to other people or situations.
Psychoanalysis that had previously been used on anorexia nervosa do not work as well as it did after it was modified. Giving motivation and noticing their unconscious showed better results for the patients. Giving advice as therapy was unsuccessful compared to listening and understanding patients with their problems.
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