Final answer:
Anorexia nervosa is commonly treated with a combination of mental health counseling, medications like antidepressants, nutritional counseling, and sometimes hospitalization. The treatment approach is tailored to the individual's needs and may include antidepressants and antipsychotics in cases with comorbid conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The common approaches to treat individuals with anorexia nervosa include mental health counseling, medications, nutritional counseling, and in severe cases, hospitalization. Mental health counseling is crucial for addressing the psychological aspects of anorexia, often delivered through different therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Medications may include antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) if the individual is also dealing with depression or anxiety. It is important to provide nutritional counseling to restore physical health and promote healthy eating patterns. In extreme cases, where there are serious health risks involved, hospitalization might be necessary to stabilize the individual's condition. Electroconvulsive therapy and classes of antipsychotics may also be considered, particularly when more conventional treatments have not been successful or when there are comorbid psychiatric conditions.