Anorexia and Bulimia: Traits and Treatment Options

Anoreksija i bulimija najčešći su poremećaji u prehrani. Anoreksija se definira kao namjerno izgladnjivanje čiji je rezultat izrazita mršavost, dok se bulimija opisuje kao izmjenjivanje epizoda prejedanja s epizodama namjernog izbacivanja hrane iz organizma. Razvoju ovih poremećaja doprinose različiti individualni (biološki i psihološki), obiteljski i sociokulturalni čimbenici. Anoreksija i bulimija mogu dovesti do negativnih zdravstvenih i psihosocijalnih posljedica, te mogu direktno prouzrokovati smrt oboljele osobe. Zbog toga je važno pravovremeno uočiti simptome i uključiti oboljele osobe u tretman. U Hrvatskoj se nude opcije bolničkog i izvanbolničkog tretmana, a važnu ulogu u tretmanu ima psihoterapija. Oboljele osobe i njihove obitelji pomoć mogu potražiti u specijaliziranim odjelima za poremećaje u prehrani u zagrebačkim bolnicama KBC Rebro i „Sveti Ivan“, te u neprofitnim udrugama na području Zagreba, Rijeke i Splita koje se bave poremećajima u prehrani. Problem predstavljaju pretjerana centralizacija usluga u Zagrebu i relativna skupoća privatne psihoterapije u odnosu na prihode prosječnog hrvatskog građanina. Važnu ulogu u prevenciji, ranom prepoznavanju i tretmanu anoreksije i bulimije, kao i zastupanju prava oboljelih osoba, mogu zauzeti socijalni radnici.Anorexia and bulimia are most common eating disorders. While anorexia is defined as deliberate self-starvation which leads to extreme thinness, bulimia is described as a cycle of binging and purging episodes. These disorders manifest as a consequence of many different individual (biological and psychological), family and sociocultural factors. Anorexia and bulimia can lead to negative health and psychosocial consequences, and even directly cause death of an eating disordered individual. This is why timely recognition and inclusion of eating disordered individuals in treatment is important. In Croatia, treatment options include inpatient and outpatient treatment. Psychotherapy is considered an important part of the treatment. Eating disordered individuals and their families can get help in specialized departments for eating disorders located in two hospitals in Zagreb: „KBC Rebro“and „Sveti Ivan“. Help is also available in nonprofit organizations for eating disorders located in Zagreb, Rijeka and Split. Problems in treatment availability include excessive centralization of services in Zagreb and relative costliness of private psychotherapy compared to the income of an average Croatian citizen. Social workers may take on an important role in prevention, early recognition and treatment of eating disorders, as well as represent the rights of eating disordered individuals