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The Challenge of Managing Severely Ill Patients with Anorexia Nervosa in Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Caroline Maher  and
Izu Nwachukwu
Caroline Maher*
Affiliation:
Eating Disorder Programme, Elm Mount Unit, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
Izu Nwachukwu
Affiliation:
North Sector, Wexford Mental Health Services, Ireland
*
*Correspondence Email C.Maher@st-vincents.ie
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Abstract

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Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has the highest rates of morbidity and mortality of any psychiatric disorder. Psychiatrists in Ireland have reported difficulties in managing patients with AN, particularly those with severe levels of illness. This paper explores these management difficulties, including the financial and organisational impediments to service provision, and the legal and ethical dilemmas involved in dealing with those patients who refuse treatment.

Keywords

Anorexia Nervosalegal and ethical difficultiescoercive feeding
Type
Editorial
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , 2012 , pp. 69 - 71
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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