Mathew Nguyen
University of Florida, USA
Title: : Managing the Complex Family Systems of Eating Disorder Patients
Biography
Biography: Mathew Nguyen
Abstract
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has a lifetime prevalence rate of about 0.9% with a 10-1 ratio female-to-male with a mortality rate somewhere between 10-20%. This disorder is most prevalent in the adolescent and young adult population. Other eating disorders are less deadly but more prevalent, especially in the college-age population. Patients with Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder are less easily identified, as their body habitus is not emaciated (like patients with AN), but the impact on social and occupational functioning can be as great. We will discuss the prevalence rate, epidemiology, psychological etiology, and potential treatment strategies for the various eating disorders. Treatment includes inpatient hospitalization (most restrictive and most severe of cases) to outpatient therapy, medications (if indicated), and nutrition consultation. Focus will be given to discussing the complex dynamics of the family systems, the impact of transference and counter-transference on the clinician, and the possible therapeutic pitfalls. The more classic psychodynamic approach to patient care is becoming more obsolete; however, it remains pertinent in current patient care. With this in mind, we will define and discuss various defense mechanisms, focus on projective identification, and apply this to understanding how to approach and manage the complicated family systems that often accompany adolescents with Eating Disorders.