Positive Health Online

Abstract

OSTERMANN and COLLEAGUES, 1 Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448 Witten, Germany Thomas.ostermann@uni-wh.de ; 2 Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 50, 58448 Witten, Germany; 3 Parkland-Hospital for Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Im Kreuzfeld 6, 34537 Bad Wildungen-Reinhardshausen, Germany; 4 Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45276 Essen, Germany prepared a case report analyzing the effectiveness of yoga in eating disorders.

Background

Eating disorders are among the most common psychosomatic diseases and are often associated with negative health consequences.

Methodology

The use of yoga as a treatment method in eating disorders is controversial discussed. The interviewee was a 38 year old female patient suffering on anorexia nervosa and various psychosomatic-psychiatric diagnoses in her medical history.

Results

The patient reported that yoga recovered the soul contact which she lost and she had learned to perceive and feel herself again. She stated that yoga helped her to find access to her body and its needs and to cope with her traumatic experiences. She also reported that attitudes have changed in relation to her stomach in the treatment of her anorexia. The case report confirmed the positive effect of yoga on eating disorders.

Conclusion

Research should pay particular attention to taking into account the influence of individual's co-morbidities, as eating disorders usually occur in association with co-morbidities.

References

Thomas Ostermann  1 , Hannah Vogel  2 , Christina Starke  3 , Holger Cramer  4. Effectiveness of yoga in eating disorders - A case report. Complement Ther Med.; 42:145-148. Epub 13 Nov 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.11.014.  Feb 2019.