What is an appropriate long-term goal for a patient with anorexia nervosa?

• A. Family attending counseling.
• B. Discussion of denial.
• C. Reduction of self doubt.
• D. Restoration of normal eating and elimination patterns.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that long-term treatment goals for anorexia nervosa center on restoring weight through normal eating and stopping abnormal eating patterns. When a patient returns to regular meal patterns and stops restrictive or compensatory behaviors, the body can recover from malnutrition, metabolic processes normalize, and psychological recovery becomes more feasible. This goal is comprehensive and patient-centered, guiding ongoing treatment and monitoring.

Involving the family, working through denial, or reducing self-doubt are important parts of the overall treatment plan and support engagement, but they are steps or supporting processes rather than the primary long-term endpoint. The central objective remains normal eating and the elimination of disordered eating patterns.