“Few and poorly distributed treatment centers”

More than three and a half million people in Italy live with a nutrition and eating disorder, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. The organization of services that deal with these patients is growing, but the centers are “few and poorly distributed, as can be seen from the territorial mapping just released by the Higher Institute of Health”, say the experts of the Italian Society of Psychopathology of nutrition (Sipa), special section of the Italian Society of Psychiatry (Sip), commenting on the ISS Map on the specialized treatment centers present in Italy. The topic will be one of the focuses addressed at the National Congress of the Society which will be held in Udine on 17 and 18 October.

Psychotherapeutic, psychoeducational and pharmacological interventions

“In this congress, all forms of intervention will be discussed, largely psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational, but also pharmacological – he reports Matteo Balestrieripresident of the Sipa congress, co-president of the Italian Society of Neuropsychopharmacology, as well as professor of Psychiatry at the University of Udine -. Furthermore, all the insights and knowledge we have on the characteristics of those suffering from a nutrition and eating disorder will be exposed. There are therefore focuses on bulimia, anorexia, but also on uncontrolled eating disorders and, in a broad sense, obesity, which also has a psychological component, linked to mental overeating”.

From clinics to semi-residential and residential facilities

“There are various contributions necessary to intervene effectively on nutrition and eating disorders, which involve different professionals: psychiatrists, psychologists, professional educators, internal medicine specialists, nutritionists and dieticians – explains Balestrieri -. These are disorders that present characteristics certainly linked to the psychological-psychiatric sphere, but they also have an important physical and nutritional component that must be monitored. THE intervention levels are therefore different: ranging from outpatient to semi-residential and day care, with the possibility of short stays in day hospital for monitoring the physical state and even hospitalizations. It should also be remembered the role of residential structures which allow for longer reception and which are distributed very unevenly across the national territory”. Finally, during the congress, particular attention will be paid to prevention, early diagnosis and the importance of intervening promptly. “For these disorders, as in many other fields of psychiatry and beyond, intervening early means shortening the duration of the disease and reducing the risk of it getting worse,” concludes Balestrieri.

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