Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, has both physical and emotional components. That's why it can require the attention of different health care providers, such as primary care physicians, licensed mental health counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists. Below is an overview of the roles each of these health professionals may play when diagnosing anorexia.
Primary Care Physicians
A primary care physician will likely ask questions primarily related to your body to arrive at a diagnosis. He or she will ask about your medical and family history and whether this behavior has existed for a long time or started recently. The doctor might ask how long you've worried about your weight and what you do to control it.
He or she will perform a visual inspection of your body for signs of malnutrition, including looking at your mouth, skin, hair and nails. Your physician might measure your height and weight and examine your vital signs by feeling your abdomen, listening to your heart, and measuring your blood pressure.
The physician might also order blood and urine tests to determine whether your organs are functioning normally, especially the liver, kidneys and thyroid gland. Other tests might include X-rays and an ECG. The physician might question you about your activity level and whether you exercise to determine how much nutritional energy you actually need.
Counseling Specialists
A mental health counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist may invite you to a counseling session, where he or she can perform a more detailed assessment and evaluation concerning the state of your mind. You might be asked to complete a psychological questionnaire.
During the evaluation, you will likely be asked to elaborate on your feelings, thoughts and your body image. There will likely be questions about your eating habits, when you eat, how often you eat, and how many calories you typically consume in a meal. The counselor will be interested in how you control your weight and how often you exercise. Other questions most likely asked would be whether you have a food ritual and whether you think about food a lot.
Part of the diagnostic process may include questions about whether you have family members who struggle with anorexia. During the session the counselor might ask about stressful situations in your life, including peer-pressure, relationship changes, physical changes like menstruation, loss of a loved one, or moving to a new house. Your social relationships are another factor. Are you socially active or do you avoid going out, because there might be food involved?
To arrive at a correct anorexia diagnosis, the counseling specialist will also want to know whether other people have made comments regarding your weight. Finally, he or she would be interested in your own assessment of the situation: How serious do you think it is to have low weight? Do you see it as a choice? How often do you weigh yourself and check yourself in the mirror? These questions may also be used to determine whether you suffer from depression or anxiety.
