NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) A
treatment is based on a model of change, with focus
on the stages of change. Stages of change represent
constellations of intentions and behaviors through
which individuals pass as they move from having a
problem to doing something to resolve it. The stages
of change move from “pre-contemplation,” in which
individuals show no intention of changing, to the
“action” stage, in which they are actively engaged in
overcoming their problem. Transition from one stage
to the next is sequential, but not linear. The aim of
MET is to help individuals move from earlier stages
into the action stage using cognitive and emotional
strategies. Nonpurging Any of a number of behaviors engaged
in by a person with bulimia nervosa to offset
potential weight gain from excessive calorie intake
from binge eating. Nonpurging can take the form of
excessive exercise, misuse of insulin by people with
diabetes, or long periods of fasting.
Nutritional Therapy Therapy that provides patients
with information on the effects of their eating
disorder. For example, therapy often includes, as
appropriate, techniques to avoid binge eating and
refeed, and advice about making meals and eating.
The goals of nutrition therapy for individuals with
anorexia and bulimia nervosa differ according to the
disorder. With bulimia, for example, goals are to
stabilize blood sugar levels, help individuals
maintain a diet that provides them with enough
nutrients, and help restore gastrointestinal health.
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) Mental
disorder in which recurrent thoughts, impulses, or
images cause inappropriate anxiety and distress,
followed by acts that the sufferer feels compelled to
perform to alleviate this anxiety. Criteria for mood
disorder diagnoses can be found in the DSMIV.
Opioid Antagonists A type of drug therapy that
interferes with the brain’s opioid receptors and is
sometimes used to treat eating disorders.
Orthorexia Nervosa An eating disorder in which a
person obsesses about eating only “pure” and
healthy food to such an extent that it interferes with
the person’s life. This disorder is not a diagnosis
listed in the DSM-IV.
Osteoporosis A condition characterized by a
decrease in bone mass with decreased density and
enlargement of bone spaces, thus producing porosity
and brittleness. This can sometimes be a
complication of an eating disorder, including bulimia
nervosa and anorexia nervosa.
Out-of-network benefits Healthcare obtained by a
beneficiary from providers (hospitals, clinicians, etc.)
that are outside the network that the insurance
company has assigned to that beneficiary. Benefits
obtained outside the designated network are usually
reimbursed at a lower rate. In other words,
beneficiaries share more of the cost of care when
obtaining that care “out of network” unless the
insurance company has given the beneficiary special
written authorization to go out of network.
Parity Equality (see Mental Health Parity Laws).
Partial Hospitalization (Intensive Outpatient) For a
patient with an eating disorder, partial
hospitalization is a time-limited, structured program
of psychotherapy and other therapeutic services
provided through an outpatient hospital or
community mental health center. The goal is to
resolve or stabilize an acute episode of
mental/behavioral illness.
Peptic Esophagitis Inflammation of the esophagus
caused by reflux of stomach contents and acid.
Pharmacotherapy Treatment of a disease or
condition using clinician-prescribed drugs.
Phenethylamine Monoamine Reuptake Inhibitors A
class of drugs used to treat depression.
Pre-existing Condition A health problem that existed
or was treated before the effective date of one’s
health insurance policy.
Provider A healthcare facility (e.g., hospital,
residential treatment center), doctor, nurse,
therapist, social worker, or other professional who
provides care to a patient.
Psychoanalysis An intensive, nondirective form of
psychodynamic therapy in which the focus of
treatment is exploration of a person’s mind and
habitual thought patterns. It is insight oriented,
meaning that the goal of treatment is for the patient
to increase understanding of the sources of his/her
inner conflicts and emotional problems.
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