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'Float therapy' for anorexia nervosa shows promise
Medical Xpress / Laureate Institute for Brain Research / eClinicalMedicine ^ | Aug. 29, 2023 | Emily M. Choquette et al

Posted on 09/04/2023 10:58:47 AM PDT by ConservativeMind

A trailblazing study has made significant strides with a novel technique for treating anorexia nervosa (AN), an eating disorder characterized by low body weight, body image abnormalities, and anxiety.

The researchers identified several immediate and sustained effects of floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) in inpatients with anorexia nervosa. Also known as "float therapy," floatation-REST is a non-pharmacological treatment that involves floating effortlessly in a shallow pool of warm water saturated with Epsom salt, in a lightproof, soundproof, humidity- and temperature-controlled environment, and it is increasingly used by the general public as a stress reduction tool.

In the study, the anorexia nervosa inpatients randomized to receive floatation-REST reported immediate and repeated reductions in body image dissatisfaction and improved anxiety relative to a comparison group of anorexia nervosa inpatients randomized to receive care as usual, whose symptoms were unchanged. Moreover, the body image improvements in the floatation-REST group remained after the treatment and lasted for up to six months.

"This breakthrough offers a new therapeutic direction in treating anorexia nervosa, a psychiatric disorder known for its challenging prognosis and high mortality rate," said psychiatrist Sahib Khalsa, MD, Ph.D.

"Anxiety is a common co-occurrence in anorexia nervosa that does not respond well to standard anxiolytic medications such as benzodiazepines," he added. "The large anxiety reductions induced by float therapy in these patients suggest that this tool presents a potent opportunity to treat anxiety via non-pharmacological means in anorexia nervosa."

"These findings also make way for new forms of treatment for eating disorders which, in conjunction with traditional treatments, may help to alleviate diagnostic features of AN that are more difficult to treat, such as body image," commented co-first author Emily Choquette, Ph.D.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: anorexia; floattherapy
This is a non-invasive option that appears to reprogram the brain to help curb aneroxia nervosa.
1 posted on 09/04/2023 10:58:47 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: ConservativeMind

I did go into one of these for kicks. I did not like it.


2 posted on 09/04/2023 11:00:29 AM PDT by Hildy
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

3 posted on 09/04/2023 11:01:18 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

You ever watch Stranger Things? No, thanks. LOL


4 posted on 09/04/2023 11:09:41 AM PDT by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: ConservativeMind

It’s pretty much impossible to exclude a placebo effect from this kind of claim.


5 posted on 09/04/2023 11:17:10 AM PDT by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: ConservativeMind

6 posted on 09/04/2023 11:17:53 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: ConservativeMind; Hildy
"This breakthrough offers a new therapeutic direction in treating anorexia nervosa, a psychiatric disorder known for its challenging prognosis and high mortality rate," said psychiatrist Sahib Khalsa, MD, Ph.D.

Slightly off-topic, but treating anorexics and bulimics with vomit-inducing meds or diet pills, respectively, would be madness.

And yet, the nation is in a heated debate over letting a gender-confused 5-year old (with whom a family wouldn’t trust the remote control) go through with re-assignment surgery.

7 posted on 09/04/2023 11:18:27 AM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: ConservativeMind

I tend to think that anorexia is an extreme form of narcissism with a delusional bent to it. So obsessed with how you look, how thin you want to be, how fat you think you are. So self absorbed.


8 posted on 09/04/2023 11:37:11 AM PDT by Lizavetta
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To: Lizavetta

I tend to think that anorexia is an extreme form of narcissism with a delusional bent to it. So obsessed with how you look, how thin you want to be, how fat you think you are. So self absorbed.
*********
You would not be correct. People that are anorexic are usually living in a chaotic situation. Control over what they eat is the only place they can exercise control in their lives. Now, whether the situation is a nutty family or a mental health issue is another question.


9 posted on 09/04/2023 12:04:48 PM PDT by yldstrk (Bingo! We have a winner!)
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To: Lizavetta

I don’t remember anyone with anorexia during the 40s, 50s, and 60s.


10 posted on 09/04/2023 12:14:33 PM PDT by ryderann
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To: yldstrk
People that are anorexic are usually living in a chaotic situation. Control over what they eat is the only place they can exercise control in their lives.

Severely underweight women that look in a mirror and see an overweight person are obviously delusional. That they have chaos in their lives (did Karen Carpenter?) may be true but seeing something that isn't there is a form of delusion.

I have my opinion. You have yours.

11 posted on 09/04/2023 12:32:33 PM PDT by Lizavetta
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To: yldstrk

Having dealt with eating disorder, related to mind/thought problems, the answer for me was the realization I was too focused on me.

“Found” by Jesus and slowly started realizing life is better God’s way (obey Him and then He is responsible for all the results - so freeing!) much less stress, no need to feel I have to be in control etc. Mind/wrong thought issues 98% resolved (occasional wrong thought but quickly back in line with God’s word) and eating disorder normalized.

All things are fear (self) or faith (God). There is no in-between.


12 posted on 09/04/2023 1:07:34 PM PDT by b4me
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To: yldstrk

Control over what they eat is the only place they can exercise control in their lives.

___________________________

Bingo. Speaking as someone who battled with anorexia when I was younger.


13 posted on 09/04/2023 1:24:33 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear ("Equity" = "All animals are equal. Some animals are more equal than others.")
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To: ryderann

You dont remember because its a condition of the wealthy. We live in such a cush society for women that they actaully engage in this.


14 posted on 09/04/2023 2:03:50 PM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: ConservativeMind

Good way to raise your magnesium level, I will will keep it in mind.


15 posted on 09/04/2023 5:36:41 PM PDT by matthew fuller (The whole Western world needs Trump leadership.” Nigel Farage, Newsmax, 07/31/2023.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Treating Anorexia with Keto (Bret Scher, MD):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhpkjLbCTAc

Keto/Carnivore Diet puts Anorexia in Remission? New info 2023 (Dr Ken Berry):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW2YGBiN-QM


16 posted on 09/04/2023 5:44:54 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (We're a nation of feelings, not thoughts.)
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To: Lizavetta
I tend to think that anorexia is an extreme form of narcissism with a delusional bent to it. So obsessed with how you look, how thin you want to be, how fat you think you are. So self absorbed.

OK, so you don't have that problem. They do and they're dying of it so whether you think it's real or not, it is to them. Telling them to "just eat something" doesn't work.

There were people with anorexia during the 40s, 50s, and 60s, they just didn't live very long or come out in public often.

17 posted on 09/05/2023 3:57:06 AM PDT by GaryCrow
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