May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Clinic Advocates for Early Intervention for Eating Disorders

SYLVANIA, Ohio - May 2, 2017 - PRLog -- Thirty million Americans struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their life. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can affect people of every age, gender, race, ethnicity and socioeconomics. Eating disorders are common, potentially chronic, and life-threatening conditions primarily affecting young women, and largely require specialized treatment by clinicians with specific training. They are not a choice, nor a lifestyle but persistent patterns of unhealthy eating or dieting behavior.

Anorexia nervosa, in particular, is characterized by a chronic illness course and is associated with the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Other serious eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder also have an increased risk of death compared to the general population. Thus, the importance of early intervention and using evidence-based treatment dramatically reduces medical complications and mortality. Despite the potentially fatal consequences, full recovery at any age is not only possible but also the most likely outcome with early detection and the right kind of care.

One of the nation's leading treatment facilities and the only one in Northwest Ohio is the River Centre Clinic. Established in 1996, River Centre Clinic has been providing specialized and cost-effective treatment for individuals suffering from eating disorders for more than 20 years. It is located in a modern, spacious and tranquil setting in Sylvania, Ohio. The facility was designed to provide an attractive and safe alternative to hospital or hospital based-programs.

As a pioneer in the development of a nationally recognized-treatment model, the clinic's innovative approach provides a high level of structure and intensity to be clinically effective for eating disorder patients at a fraction of the cost of most inpatient or residential programs. The River Centre Clinic staff are highly trained exclusively in eating disorders. They provide each patient with an individualized treatment plan that integrates both physical and emotional aspects of eating disorders using individual, group, and family approaches. Programs offered include:

• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for adults – combines 35 hours per week (5 days a week, 7 hours a day) of treatment providing structure and monitoring to meet the needs of most adults with serious eating disorders.

• Adolescent Residential Program - available for youth and adolescents up to 18 years old and offers 24-hour care, 7 days a week.

• Intensive Out Patient Program – available 4 hours a day, 3-5 days a week, specifically designed for binge eating disorder.

• Outpatient Services – for adults and adolescents with eating disorder symptoms who do not require a high level of care. Outpatient services are also available for those with other primary diagnosis such as anxiety, depression, trauma and grief/loss issues.

River Centre Clinic is accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), and is dedicated to educating the public, those suffering from eating disorders and professionals aimed at improving the quality of care available. While eating disorders are very serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses, there is help available and recovery really is possible. It is important for those affected to remember that they are not alone in their struggle; others have recovered and are now living healthy fulfilling lives. Early detection coupled with specialized treatment provide the best possible outcome. Here is an overview of major eating disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa

• Inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low.

• Intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight and persistent behavior to prevent weight gain.

• Self-esteem overly related to body image.

• Inability to appreciate the severity of the situation.

• Binge-Eating/Purging Type involves binge eating and /or purging behaviors during the last three months.

• Restricting Type does not involve binge eating or purging.

Bulimia Nervosa

• Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting.

• A feeling of being out of control during the binge-eating episodes.

• Self-esteem overly related to body image.

Binge Eating Disorder

• Frequent episodes of consuming very large amounts of food but without behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting.

• A feeling of being out of control during the binge eating episodes.

• Feelings of strong shame or guilt regarding the binge eating.

• Indications that the binge eating is out of control, such as eating when not hungry, eating to the point of discomfort, or eating alone because of shame about the behavior.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder

• A feeding or eating disorder that causes significant distress or impairment, but does not meet the criteria for another feeding or eating disorder.

• Examples include:

Atypical anorexia nervosa (weight is not below normal)

Bulimia nervosa (with less frequent behaviors)

Binge-eating disorder (with less frequent occurrences)

Purging disorder (purging without binge eating)

Night eating syndrome (excessive nighttime food consumption)

To seek help or for more information please visit http://www.river-centre.org or call 877-212-5457.