Eating disorders.

Abstract

Eating disorders are common among adolescent girls and young women and are associated with potentially serious medical complications, yet they often go undetected and untreated. All patients with eating disorders should be evaluated and treated for medical complications of the disease at the same time that psychotherapy and nutritional counseling are undertaken. Pharmacologic agents are often useful as adjuncts to psychotherapy for bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder; in the case of anorexia nervosa, psychotropic medication is generally reserved for patients with a concurrent psychiatric illness or those who have recovered some weight.