The Course of Treatment and Beyond

The length of treatment necessary to successfully treat eating disorders varies greatly. For example, some reports indicate that adolescents with anorexia nervosa who are identified early in their illness trajectory may require as little as six months of treatment. In contrast, individuals with a prolonged course of eating disturbance may be in treatment for several years.

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The issue of relapse is complex and is greatly influenced by an individual's expectations for treatment. Some people who felt they had lost control of their behavior and were at the mercy of their thinking patterns during their illnesses report complete recovery. With recovery, these people report that they have established a healthy relationship with food, as well as clearer insight into their thinking.

For others, concerns about eating and discomfort with body image remain as subtle background noise that they have learned to minimize so that it does not greatly impact their quality of life. Others continue to do the best they can to cope with the limitations imposed by their illness.