Blood-letting in anorexia nervosa: a case study.
BACKGROUND
Deliberate blood-letting has been characterized as an alternative to purging behavior in bulimia.


METHODS
We describe a female healthcare worker with an 8-year history of restrictive anorexia nervosa, who initially presented with anemia, using blood-letting, cold baths, and starvation to control her mental state.


RESULTS
In contrast with the previous cases of bulimia, the aim of blood-letting in this case of anorexia nervosa was to achieve anemia. She compared the psychic correlates of anemia to emaciation, rather than to deliberate self-harm or purging.


CONCLUSIONS
We note that mainstream 19th century psychiatry prescribed "baths, blood-letting and diet" as a treatment of "madness."
Morgan
J F
JF
Department of Psychiatry, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Lacey
J H
JH
D000740:Anemia; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000523:psychology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*