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Anorexia: o que é, sintomas e tratamento em Lisboa

ANOREXIA - Treatment in Lisbon

Specialised assessment and multidisciplinary treatment of Anorexia Nervosa in Lisbon

WHAT IS ANOREXIA?

Avaliação psiquiátrica da Anorexia Nervosa — NeuroPsyque Lisboa

More than a question of weight or diet

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious eating and psychiatric disorder that can result in severe consequences. It is characterised by severe food restriction, an intense and pathological fear of becoming fat and a profound distortion of body image. It is not a simple "diet" or lifestyle choice; it is a complex and debilitating illness that requires medical and psychological intervention as early as possible.

Most common manifestations

  • Severe Food Restriction
    Obsessive calorie counting, skipping meals, avoiding entire categories of food and adopting rigid table rituals.
  • Body Image Distortion
    People perceive themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously underweight or clearly malnourished.
  • Compensatory Behaviours
    In some cases, excessive and compulsive physical exercise, the use of laxatives, diuretics or inducing vomiting (purgative form).
  • Severe Physical Symptoms
    Extreme weight loss, amenorrhoea in women (absence of menstruation), hair loss, chronic lethargy (no energy for simple tasks), cold intolerance and heart changes.

RISK FACTORS AND BEHAVIOURS

Biological and genetic factors

Anorexia can arise from a genetic predisposition combined with a neurobiological dysregulation of neurotransmitters, directly affecting the appetite, mood and reward centres in the brain.

Biological

Personality traits

There is usually a tendency towards extreme perfectionism, cognitive rigidity, a strong need for control over the environment and high levels of anxiety. In almost 100% of cases there is constant anxiety, and in many cases (>50%) there are episodes of marked panic, usually triggered by the anticipation of social or family events.

Psychological

Socio-cultural factors

Continuous (social) media pressure around the ideal body and thinness, bullying and recurring negative comments about physical appearance. There are often reports of phrases or comments that stick in patients' memories and aggravate their fixation with aesthetics and elegance.

Environmental

Emotional triggers

Specific traumatic events, significant losses, complex family dynamics or life transitions that trigger the illness as a rigid control mechanism.

Triggers
Avaliação neurobiológica e fatores de risco na Anorexia

Denial of the illness (anosognosia) is a very common symptom, making it difficult to seek help and requiring a great deal of family involvement. The image you see in the mirror is completely distorted from reality. This is involuntary and requires psychological work to overcome. What seems obvious to others is perceived as an attempt to reassure the patient.

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EFFECTIVENESS IN TREATMENT
ANOREXIA

Clinical results based on neuromodulation and multidisciplinary approaches focused on daily well-being

75%
of patients report relief from obsession with the body through brain stimulation (tDCS). "Switching off" this mental noise saves an enormous amount of daily energy.
60%
and depression using Magnetic Stimulation (EMT). By treating guilt at its neural root, facing meals is no longer a terrifying event.
3x
easier to beat the illness when the family is clinically guided. Involving parents or family members shares the exhausting burden of recovery and restores peace at home.
85%
of patients stabilise their vital weight with intensive support. Physical recovery means an end to chronic daily pains such as extreme cold, hair loss and weakness.

* Full recovery requires treating the biological changes in the malnourished brain and breaking the cycles of emotional rigidity, restoring flexibility and autonomy to the patient.

Sources: clinical data, Orygen - tDCS efficacy trial in Anorexia Nervosa (ANZJP, 2023); Meta-analysis: EMT/rTMS in reducing symptoms of Anorexia (2025); NIH Studies: Family Integration (FBT) and Weight Stabilisation.

TECHNOLOGY AND THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT

Avaliação Neurobiológica na Anorexia
Neuromodulação Psiquiátrica
Acompanhamento Multidisciplinar
Abordagens Terapêuticas e Apoio
Estimulação Eléctrica Transcraniana
qEEG Mapeamento Cerebral
Sala de Tratamento e Terapia
Espaço Bem-Estar e Recuperação
Clínica Lisboa
Ondas Cerebrais
Fisiologia

THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY INTERVENTION

Anorexia Nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric disorders. Denial of the seriousness of the illness is one of its core symptoms (anosognosia), which often leads to the sufferer refusing to seek help. The proactive role of the family and early diagnosis by a specialised team are vital for halting the progression of malnutrition and reversing the organic and brain damage, which can become permanent.

💡 Treatment doesn't just focus on regaining body weight, but on deeply restructuring the patient's relationship with themselves, their emotions and food. Anorexia takes all the energy out of the patient, affecting all areas of life, and tends to worsen the depressive state over time.

At NeuroPsyque, we recognise the complexity of treating this illness. We work with a highly qualified multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatry, psychology, neurology, neurotherapy and physiotherapy when necessary. The aim is to re-establish the body's biological balance and provide the psychological tools that are essential for a solid, but also long-lasting recovery, since the disease has a high relapse rate when treatment is insufficient.

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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's about Anorexia

What's the difference between wanting to lose weight and having anorexia?
Many people try to lose weight. The difference lies in the obsession, the extreme fear of gaining weight despite being underweight, and the persistence in losing weight despite the severe physical, emotional and cognitive consequences. In Anorexia, thinness becomes the main measure of personal worth, and control over food becomes an obsession that overrides all concerns, goals and relationships.
My family member refuses to seek help. What should I do?
Refusal is very common due to the nature of the illness. The patient doesn't perceive danger. On the contrary - they feel distrustful of the concern of those close to them. It is crucial that the family seeks professional counselling, even if the patient initially resists. A psychiatrist can help devise strategies to motivate intervention and safeguard physical health in the short term. Involving the family in treatment is fundamental. Empowering the family to deal with the emotional component of the illness can make all the difference to the success of treatment.
Can Anorexia Nervosa be cured?
Yes. The term commonly used in mental health is "total remission". With specialised treatment and adequate long-term support, it is perfectly possible to regain complete physical health, restore a free eating pattern and develop a healthy, peaceful relationship with your body and food. The determining factor is usually maintaining this healthy relationship over time.
Is psychiatric medication necessary?
Medication doesn't directly cure dietary restriction, but it is often used and very valuable in treating co-occurring symptoms or illnesses that fuel anorexia, such as depression severe anxiety paralysing or severe obsessive-compulsive traits. In selected cases Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation can complement the therapeutic plan by acting on emotional regulation and obsessive circuits. The treatment is based above all on psychotherapeutic support - in changing perceptions.
Do only teenage girls suffer from anorexia?
No. This is a dangerous myth. Although the onset often peaks in adolescence and is more prevalent in females, anorexia can affect young boys, men, adult women and people from any age, socio-economic and cultural group.
What does therapeutic counselling consist of?
Treatment is initially based on re-establishing weight (often with specialised nutritional monitoring) to avoid severe complications, and psychotherapy, such as Enhanced Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-E) or Family-Based Therapy (FBT) in younger patients, addressing irrational beliefs and distortions about shape, weight and self-esteem.
Do I need a medical referral to book an appointment at NeuroPsyque?
No. No referral is necessary. If your family member shows signs of an eating disorder or is seeking help for themselves, you can contact us directly to book your specialised clinical assessment.