Health minister Rosie Winterton today announced that the Government has awarded nearly ?2 million to fund research into improving treatment for anorexia nervosa.
Evidence suggests that the sooner anorexia nervosa is identified and treated, the better the long term outcomes for the patient.
However, the condition, which some surveys suggest affects one per cent of 15 to 25 year olds, can be difficult to diagnose because young people may not realise they are seriously ill, and can be very reluctant to tell anyone even when they do know. It can also be difficult to treat because it is often associated with very complex emotional needs.
The funding will enable the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the Institute of Psychiatry and the eating disorder charity Beat, to conduct research into providing better resources for the identification and treatment of anorexia. Work will include the development and testing of a range psychological treatments that professionals can use at different stages of the disease to target different types of sufferers. This will enable professionals to match assessments and treatments to the profile of individual sufferers.
The study should also lead to the development of new, user-friendly materials for patients and their carers.