Anorexia nervosa in adolescence

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions with psychological, behavioural and physiological characteristics. Anorexia Nervosa (AN) represents a particular subtype of eating disorder and affects approximately 10% of the overall total. AN is significantly more common in young women than in young men and is the second most common mental health disorder in adolescent girls. It is a serious condition with the highest standardized mortality of any psychiatric condition. Optimal care requires input from a multi disciplinary team (MDT) providing collaborative medical, nutritional and psychological interventions which includes the family, dieticians, consultant psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, paediatricians and general practitioners. Important acute complications include refeeding syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. Family based therapy is the first line outpatient, psychological intervention for children and adolescents with AN. Nutritional rehabilitation is a fundamental component of treatment and early dietician involvement is crucial. Current outcomes for AN are variable and a firm evidence base for many areas of treatment has yet to be established.