title: Creating an Opportunity to Reflect: Ear Acupuncture in Anorexia Nervosa - Inpatients' Experiences.
abstract: The aim of this study was to elucidate the meaning of receiving acupuncture as a complement in the treatment of anorexia nervosa at a specialist unit. Nine inpatients were interviewed, one to three times. The sixteen interviews were analysed with a phenomenological hermeneutic method. The main theme found was "Creating a pause, a framework for rest and reflection." The participants described acupuncture to be an attractive part of the treatment, offering a pause in a very stressful situation. The relaxing effect was palpable. They described unusual calmness and a meditative state allowing them to think clearly and to reflect, and also positive physical sensations like getting warm. Anxiety decreased and gaining weight became easier to endure. Participants appreciated acupuncture as an optional treatment that they could influence. The given frame for reflection allowed processing emotions, releasing control and seeing themselves as capable to relax. Where symptoms are intense and pharmacological treatments have modest effect, like in anorexia nervosa, adjunctive therapies that help manage symptoms deserve greater attention.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Psychiatry , Region Skane , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Siiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hedlund
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , Lund University , Lund , Sweden.
authors.forename: Kajsa
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5595-5774
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landgren
mesh_terms: D020831:Acupuncture, Ear; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D055815:Young Adult