Therapy Cafe - Atypical Anorexia Nervosa: Misconceptions and Treatment Approaches

Atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) is a sub-diagnosis for patients who meet all the criteria for anorexia, except for being underweight. However, the term “atypical” is a glaring misnomer, as AAN affects up to 4.9% of people during their lifetime, whereas anorexia nervosa (AN) affects about 0.6%. Atypical anorexia became a subtype of other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED) in 2013, leading to many common misconceptions about the severity of the illness and its best treatment approach. In this episode, Dr. Cara Bohon, licensed clinical psychologist, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, and Senior Vice President of Clinical Programs at Equip, will explore these diagnostic labels, assess the severity and treatment trajectory for patients with AAN compared to AN, and propose considerations for future diagnostic clarifications.

 

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the differences (or lack thereof) between atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN) and anorexia nervosa

2. Recognize the severity of AAN and the urgency for treatment

3. Identify necessary components for treatments for AAN

 

If you’d like to obtain continuing education as a psychologist, counselor, social worker, or therapist you can purchase a one-year subscription to Psych Hub’s training center. Once signed up, you’ll have access to earn CEs for this and every Therapy Cafe episode, plus access to our existing library of over 120 evidence-based practice continuing education courses created by expert clinicians. Go to psychhub.com/signup or https://psychhub.com/courses/therapy-cafe-atypical-anorexia-nervosa-misconceptions-and-treatment-approaches-a for more information. 

Learn more about Dr. Cara Bohon at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-bohon/ 

To learn more about Equip, visit http://equip.health/psychhub.