Dr. Brandt is a psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders since 1985. He's also a professor at the University of Maryland Medical School.

Prior to his current position, he was head of the Eating Disorders Unit at NIH (the National Institute of Health.)

The question is..."How does one recover from a serious eating disorder?"

Needless to say, there is no simple answer to a complex and multi-determined problem. Eating disorders are illnesses that we now understand have genetic, biological, psychological and socio-cultural underpinnings. Only in the past decade have we begun to truly recognize the complexity of these disorders, and the need for integrated eating disorder treatment programs approaching the multiple problems from many perspectives.

I recently surveyed our treatment staff and asked them to reflect on the personal characteristics of those patients who have been successful over the years in their quest to recover from an eating disorder. A broad range of our clinicians including psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, dieticians, expressive arts therapists, and medical consultants highlighted the following elements:

1. Commitment - Getting help for an eating disorder is often a long-term, arduous process requiring a deep commitment on the part of the individual seeking help.
2. Ability to form an alliance and trusting relationship - Effective treatment stems from a collaboration between caregivers and patients working together toward the common goal of recovery.
3. Willingness to take risks - Often the eating disorder is serving a powerful need for the individual afflicted with the illness. Change requires the strength to take the risks associated with giving up the dangerous, but rewarding behaviors, that are so often a part of the eating disorder.
4. Patience - Eating disorders can result from deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and behavior, and may require significant perseverance, particularly through spans of time when there is seemingly little change or progress.
5. Acceptance of support from others - Family, friends, and significant others can often make a tremendous difference and help provide necessary structure and caring.
6. Curiosity - The development of a deep desire to understand the complexity of one's inner world, one's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the many purposes the eating disorder might be serving can become the driving force toward finding healthier solutions to life's struggles.
7. Toleration of setbacks - Movement toward recovery is often marked by periodic difficulties and is often a tortuous, back and forth process.

Our staff believes strongly that individuals suffering from severe, life-threatening eating disorders have the personal strength to find the right combination of these factors to develop healthier and happier lives. We urge those with these very serious, but highly-treatable illnesses to get the help they need.