Treatment of atypical anorexia nervosa in the public school: an autistic girl.

Because of the increase in public school programs for severely handicapped children, teachers are more likely than ever to be confronted with serious medical or psychological problems like anorexia nervosa. In this case study, desensitization successfully treated the eating disorder of a preadolescent autistic girl. However, the case also accentuated the problems teachers face in making appropriate decisions due to conflicting literature findings, traditional role responsibilities, and lack of expert resources and supportive services in the public school settings. If programs are to meet the needs of these children in the future, service and resource models for the public school settings must be developed.