Treatment of anorexia nervosa in a young adult patient with diabetes mellitus.

The case history and clinical course of a young adult patient who had diabetes mellitus and developed anorexia nervosa is described. This patient was referred for long-term inpatient treatment after short-term treatment efforts had failed. Inpatient treatment utilizing behavior modification, psychodynamic therapy, and family interventions in a long-term therapeutic milieu is discussed. This case is also contrasted with previous accounts of diabetic adolescents who developed anorexia; however, it is noted that no other reports exist of cases of anorexia developing in adult insulin-dependent diabetic patients. The necessity of integrating a variety of therapeutic techniques in such cases is discussed.