The Treatments of Eating Disorders

Eating disordered patients are among the most difficult to treat.  They present clinicians with potentially life threatening crises and the possible need for substantial ancillary care.  Even more challenging is their form of primitive bodily communication.  This bodily communication needs to emerge in the analytic relationship – such as in binge-like modes of relating to the analyst  (which bypass the possibility of real nourishment) or anorexic indifference to the analyst and the sessions.  The emergence of these symptomatic communications in the analysis is difficult, but provides an opportunity for the frightful unconscious phantasies underlying the symptoms to begin to be known.

A variety of factors will be considered in relation to the development of an eating disorder: as a disturbed effort to separate and individuate from mother; as the body expressing unbearable psychic pain through refusal or binging symptoms; and as representing problems with identity and the construction of a self. 

These two meetings will include both theory and practice.  We will start with some central concepts in the treatment of eating disorders and then discuss case material.  There will be a recommended reading for each of the two meetings. Participation in both meetings is preferred in order to create a shared thought process, but members are welcome if they are only able to attend one meeting.

To Register: Please contact Aaron Chow at 415-563-5815 or aaron.chow@sf-cp.org

Course Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

1. Be able to describe the primitive bodily communication characteristic of eating disorders and be able to interpret these bodily symptoms.
2. Be able to delineate symptoms which necessitate referral for ancillary care to support the analytic work
3. Be able to identify eating disordered models of relating within the treatment

The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis is accredited by the Institute for Medical Quality/California Medical Association (IMQ/CMA) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

PHYSICIANS: The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 credits as listed for each individual program, AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This credit may also be applied to the CMA Certification in Continuing Medical Education.

LCSWs/MFTs: The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis is a provider approved by the Board of Behavioral Sciences, Provider Number PCE623, for 2 CE credits on an hour for hour basis.

PSYCHOLOGISTS: Psychologists attending SFCP events approved for CME credits may report AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ toward their CE requirements and are now able to directly submit their verification letters at the end of each renewal cycle using the MCEP credit reporting form that can be found on the internet at:http://www.cpapsych.org/associations/6414/files/mcepaa/files/MCEP_Report...

REGISTERED NURSES: The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 02677, on an hour for hour basis.

SFCP is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SFCP maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.

Commercial Support: None

Faculty Disclosure: The following moderators and planning committee members have disclosed NO financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with commercial companies who have provided products or services, relating presentation(s) or commercial support for this continuing medical education activity: Sue von Baeyer, Ph.D., Mary Brady, Ph.D. and Marsha Silverstein, Ph.D.. All conflicts of interest have been resolved in accordance with the ACCME Updated Standards for Commercial Support.