Anorexia in Thirds | 1/3 Die, 1/3 Relapse, 1/3 Recover

Anorexia in Thirds | 1/3 Die, 1/3 Relapse, 1/3 Recover AOC Daily Musings

Dr. Dooley-Hash is not alone in her confusion. Most medical experts agree that a third of people with the disorder will remain chronically ill, a third will die of their disorder, and a third will recover — with one significant caveat. There is surprisingly little agreement as to what “recovery” means for people with anorexia.

There is significant good advice and insights into the reality of defining ‘recovery’ for patients with anorexia.

“I say to patients, ‘This is your Achilles’ heel,’ ” said Dr. Daniel Le Grange, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicago and director of the eating disorders program at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “If you have another crisis, you’re predisposed to resorting to starvation as your way of managing that issue. It would be foolish of us as clinicians not to prepare our patients that they should be on the lookout for a recurrence.”