RATIONAL THERAPY OF EATING DISORDERS

Pharmacological treatments are one of several strategies used in the t reatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Many studies have fo und that antidepressants are effective in the treatment of bulimia ner vosa and these drugs represent a mainstay of treatment for these patie nts. Over the past several years, selective serotonin reuptake inhibit ors have become perhaps the most commonly used class of drugs. A varie ty of medications have been investigated for anorexia nervosa, but the re is little consistent evidence that: medications are effective. In b oth these illnesses it is important to diagnose and treat any comorbid conditions including mood and anxiety disorders; this may involve the administration of other medications, including anxiolytics such as be nzodiazepines or buspirone or mood stabilising agents such as lithium, valproic acid (valproate sodium) or carbamazepine.