Psychological evaluation
Although each professional has his/her own style of working, the following is how I approach a psychological evaluation for an eating disorder:
In the first session I like to establish the extent of the eating disorder i.e. I want to know the rituals of the binge-purge pattern, the types of diets that are followed, the maximum and minimum weights, etc. I will also try and assess the psychological and historical causes that have contributed to the problem. Sometimes I cannot assess all of these in one session and a follow-up session may be necessary.
If the patient is an adolescent, I will first assess the patient. In a separate follow-up session I will speak with the parents. This may be difficult for parents, but it is a necessary step in the process.
The length and intensity of the therapy is dependent on the severity of the eating disorder, but most patients can expect to be in a minimum of once a week therapy for at least a year. Unfortunately, most patients leave too soon, usually because of financial reasons. Therapy is expensive, but you are exposed to a life-threatening illness that requires extensive treatment.
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