title: Psychotic symptoms in a woman with severe Anorexia Nervosa : psychotic symptoms in Anorexia Nervosa.
abstract: With this paper we aimed to describe a case of a woman affected by Anorexia Nervosa Restricting subtype (AN-R) with delusional symptoms, visual hallucinations and severe body image distortion. We discussed the main AN diagnosis and whether delusional symptoms could be related to severity of AN describing also the use of olanzapine in such a severe clinical condition. The use of olanzapine was found to be effective to reduce both delusions and body distortions, and to improve compliance to treatments. We found a severe delusional symptomatology with mystic, omnipotence and persecution features. The psychotic structure seemed preceding the eating disorder and was also found to be worsened by emaciation. The use of antipsychotic helped reducing delusional symptoms and improving compliance to treatments. Finally, the dynamically oriented therapeutic relationship helped the patient to gain weight and to achieve a full recovery from psychotic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorders Program, Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, University of Turin, Via Cherasco 11, 10126, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delsedime
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nicotra
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giovannone
authors.forename: Lucrezia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marech
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barosio
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marzola
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbate-Daga
authors.forename: Secondo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fassino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine