Help??

[Cnidarian]

Hey everybody!

I need your help. I'm looking for suggestions of books to read for a term paper I have to write for abnormal psych. Apparently, living with this damn disorder for most of my life isn't considered enough of a source! :ohboy I'm NOT asking anyone for research or personal histories or anything like that. Just want some input on good ACCURATE books.

Our assignment is to write a paper from first-person perspective, as if WE were the one with the disorder. (Yeah, I THINK I can manage that one.) Our paper has to discuss what it's like to live with the disorder (umm . . . hell!!), what treatments we've tried (umm . . . IP, IOP, OP, Residential), what the criteria are for our disorder, survival rate, etc. It's turning into an autobiography!!

Specifically, I'm looking for CURRENT books that discuss treatment styles and treatment types, what has proven to be effective, what doesn't work too well. (I know everyone's different and responds differently to treatment styles.) All I can offer right now is my own perspective, which while valid, is NOT representative of the majority.

What I have in my library at home:
Wasted
The Golden Cage
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls
The Golden Cage: The Enigma of Anorexia Nervosa
Anatomy of Anorexia
Treating and Overcoming Anorexia Nervosa
Best Little Girl In THe World
Luckiest Little Girl In The World

Hope everyone is having a good day. Thanks for your help!!

[wishingtobeinspace]

the book room to grow an appetite for life by tracey gold was awesome, i realy enjoyed it, and it's informative. It tells of her personal struggles :D

[Mantis]

i would look into DBT (books written by Marcia Linehan) for the new treatment options part of your paper - feel free to contact me for more info.

[Cnidarian]

Wishing and Mantis,

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. I'll look into them at work Monday. If the college library doesn't have them, I'll have the librarians track down a copy!

Mantis, I may very well e-mail you for more info! Right now, I need to be sleeping or grading papers!!

:)

[Mantis]

Not a problem!

[Millificent]

Treatment Manual for Anorexia Nervosa by James Lock and Daniel LeGrange (about the Maudsley Method)

The Prevention of Eating Problems and Eating Disorders by Michael P. Levine and Linda Smolak (one of the newest books giving an overview of treatment methods)

Both are available through Gurze Books (http://www.gurze.net), though the website seems to be having problems at the moment.

:dragon Millie

[Cnidarian]

Thanks Millie!

I REALLY needed some current information. Most of what I have / the college library has is so outdated. I will certainly look into these when I'm on campus tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help!!

[chinapink]

For my thesis in college, one of the books I found most helpful was "History of Anorexia Nervosa" by Brumberg, I think. Very detailed and dense, but tons of good information tracing the development of the disease from as far back as St. Catherine of Assissi (sp?) up until I guess the nineties.

[Millificent]

For my thesis in college, one of the books I found most helpful was "History of Anorexia Nervosa" by Brumberg, I think. Very detailed and dense, but tons of good information tracing the development of the disease from as far back as St. Catherine of Assissi (sp?) up until I guess the nineties.

I love that book! The title is Fasting Girls.

:dragon Millie

[KathrynTheCat]

Hey,

One of the things you can do is contact your local department of health and they often have plenty of information, reports, surveys, etc. I'm not sure which country you're in. I know that in Aust they have manuals for Doctors, and others to aid in the treatment of ED. These can be downloaded from the internet and are updated every few years. One thing on DBT is that there are mixed views. It is designed specifically to treat BPD and has proven effective in doing so, however from what I know it shows promising for ED however is still in the 'trial' days. CBT is more commonly used in the treatment of ED and has been proven to be very effective in most cases. Also, I know that many hospitals now are avoiding IP treatment as much as possible as it can cause more problems in many cases. Generally they try to focus on psychotherapy, CBT and sometimes the use of psychiatric drugs (the drugs are temporary relief, NOT cure). There of course is often doctor visits, blood tests and nutritionists, however they are to monitor the physical and not really offer treatment (nutritionist the possible exception to that rule).

The DSM-R is a great resource as it lists the diagnostic criteria for all mental illnesses, including ED. Am unsure what edition number they are now up to, however a uni library (especially if it teaches medicine/psych) should have at least a reference copy to peruse.

Personal stories...there are numerous books and they all have bits that ring true with many of us, though not true with others. Many of these books can trigger however books like 'Dying Not to Eat', 'Food and Loathing', 'Slim to None', and 'Eli's Wings' I found to be great references of their personal stories, and many points rang true for me.

Good luck and let us know if we can help further.

Love Kath xxxxxxxxx

[chinapink]

Yeah, "Fasting Girls"! Thanks, Millie. :supergrin

[homeslice]

just to clarify, it was st. catherine of siena (she's my confirmation saint).

thought i would share.