Journal of Psychiatry

Assessment and treatment of eating disorders

16^th World Congress on Psychiatry and Psychological Syndromes

April 24-25, 2017 Las Vegas, USA

Karin Sernec

University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana, Slovenia

Keynote: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Until recently, eating disorders were a group of chronic mental disorders known only to a limited circle of professionals. Today, eating disorders are recognized as a significant contemporary medical problem in our society, even a public health issue. The etiological background of eating disorders is comprised of three major segments: Biological/genetic factors, sociocultural factors and family environment. In most cases, there is a considerable overlap between these three. Eating disorders constitute: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and recently emerged entities (orthorexia and bigorexia nervosa). Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders affect persons of all ages, genders and economic backgrounds. A key factor in successful outcome of an eating disorder is the patientâ??s own motivation for treatment. One of the most successful treatment approaches is psychotherapy, especially cognitive-behavioral, developmental-analytic and family psychotherapy. Pharmacotherapy is indicated in cases of comorbidity and is used as needed. The first line of treatment is on an outpatient basis. If that proves insufficient, an inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment is indicated. Recovery is not merely an absence of specific eating disorder symptoms, it means adequate psychosocial functioning.

Biography :

Karin Sernec is an Associate Professor at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. She has earned her PhD in 2010 with thesis entitled “Anxiety, depression and aggression traits in anorexia and bulimia nervosa patients”. She has been the Head of Slovenia’s Unit for Treatment of Eating Disorders ever since it was founded in 1999. Together with her colleagues she built a multidimensional, mixed-gender inpatient treatment program in addition to group and individual outpatient treatment of persons with eating disorders. She is leading Slovenian Expert Group for Eating Disorders and continues to contribute to this field as an author and co-author of numerous scientific publications.

Email: karin.sernec@psih-klinika.si