“Can you have a psychiatry consultation for an eating disorder?”
I think my 16-year-old friend has an eating disorder. I talked to a doctor and she thinks my friend needs to see a psychiatrist. Can you have a psychiatry consultation for an eating disorder?
8 Answers
Yes, a psychiatrist can provide a consultation for eating disorders. Most have been trained to diagnose and treat, but like anything in life, some doctors or psychiatrists have a passion to treat any eating disorder, like myself. Remember with any eating disorder, family therapy is required. So, look for a family therapist to start therapy and have your 16-year-old friend do individual therapy separately.
Hope that helps,
Dr. Sangra
Hope that helps,
Dr. Sangra
Dr. Bin S. Sung
Pediatrician
Direct quote from UpToDate: "The mental health clinician typically coordinates care among the team members and administers the individual, group, and family psychotherapies that are the mainstays of treatment. In general, psychotherapy focuses primarily upon eating disorder cognitions and behaviors, and secondarily addresses affective issues, relationships, and underlying issues that may have initiated the eating disorder. In addition, clinicians with expertise in eating disorders can also provide pharmacotherapy."
Thank you for your questions. Yes, a psychiatrist, including myself, can examine and diagnose eating disorders. I hope this helps, thank you! Dr. Dodd, MD.
Yes
Your friend can see her primary care doctor to begin with and they can refer her to a psychiatrist. It is important she get help for this as it can cause severe health issues
Absolutely
Eating disorder such as bulimia and anorexia have an underlining psychiatric component. (Usually depression) They need behavior therapy and sometimes medication to stop the disorder. They need medical assessment first to make sure electrolytes are ok. There is still mortality associated with eating disorders.
Typically, a multi-disciplinary approach is important, of which psychiatry is a part. See if this link helps:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/treatment
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/treatment
