Katie Goodin - Summery of Anorexia Nervosa and its Differential Diagnosis

In "Anorexia Nervosa and its Differential Diagnosis", Hilde Bruch argues that anorexia nervosa syndrome is quite different from other psychological diseases that also affect weight loss and should be classified as such. According to Bruch, approximately 100 years ago symptoms of this disease began being recognized. Bruch cites three different sites and research groups of importance: Bliss and Branch from the United States, Thomae from Germany, and Selvini from Italy. Taking into account their findings Bruch conducted and recorded his own research. Bruch observed 43 different patients over two years. The severity of their conditions greatly varied but most were under the age of twenty. Bruch also found that most were of middle and high economic classes, female,and a majority were Jewish. He give a detailed account about four specific cases that he encountered. Burch identifies three symptoms, "disturbance in the body image and body concept"(109), "disturbance in the accuracy of perception or cognitive interpretation of stimuli arising within the body"(110), and a "paralyzing sense of ineffectiveness"(111). After describing the disease, Bruch describes some of the precedents such as home life, parental habits and expectations. Bruch also states that traditional treatments have been ineffective but therapeutic lessons in awareness can be healing.