Anorexia Treatment - Drugs

Question 1

What are the drugs used to treat AN

Answer 1

Antipsychotics, atypical antipsychotics, mood stabilisers

Question 2

What are SSRI’s and how do they help anorexia.

Answer 2

They stipe reuptake of serotonin which low levels of this is related to AN as it is linked with appetite suppression and mood. This helps with the depression and anxiety that comes with AN

Question 3

Different treatment

Answer 3

TEP, using Operant conditioning skills work towards small goals that help rehabilitate the person

Question 4

Side effects?

Answer 4

Weight gain, this especially may make people on it want to stop using chlopromazine

Question 5

Supporting study

Answer 5

Fassino - no weight gain from citalopram but helped with depression and anxiety

Question 6

What did powers find?

Answer 6

10/18 gained weight, but 4 dropped out and 4 even lost weight, so mixed study

Question 7

Is it successful

Answer 7

It can be seen as successful, but may only be as it is used along with other treatments such as TEP or family therapy

Question 8

How good is the research

Answer 8

Can get objective data from the use of weighing ppts and comparing to before use of drugs, may also use self report measures so may be low validity

Question 9

Long term solution?

Answer 9

No it only mask symptoms as low serotonin continues after the recovery anyway so this can’t be changed