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Background <p>For decades there has been a&#xa0;controversial debate as to whether end of life (EOL) care can be an ethically justifiable alternative to force-feeding in rare cases of particularly severe anorexia nervosa (AN).</p> Objective <p>The article provides an overview of the ethical debate and discusses the role that psychotherapists can play in EOL care for people with AN.</p> Material and methods <p>This article provides a&#xa0;narrative review.</p> Results <p>Central to the ethical debate is the trade-off between quantity and quality of life in the context of disagreement about the appropriate assessment of the decision-making capability of those affected and uncertainty with respect to prognosis. The debate is further complicated by heterogeneous and value-laden conceptualizations of key terms such as futility. The expertise of psychotherapists is needed at key points in the decision-making process about and in the implementation of EOL care for people with AN, both in direct patient care and in the training and support of other professional groups.</p> Conclusion <p>Important arguments both for and against EOL care must be weighed carefully on a&#xa0;case-by-case basis. The decision should therefore be made in an interdisciplinary and multiprofessional process and the involvement of legal and ethical experts is recommended. When providing EOL care for people with AN, a&#xa0;change of the goal of care back to sustaining life and normalizing weight and eating behavior needs to be possible at all times.</p>

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End-of-Life Care bei Anorexia nervosa

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月23日

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  • Anna Lisa Westermair

摘要

Background

For decades there has been a controversial debate as to whether end of life (EOL) care can be an ethically justifiable alternative to force-feeding in rare cases of particularly severe anorexia nervosa (AN).

Objective

The article provides an overview of the ethical debate and discusses the role that psychotherapists can play in EOL care for people with AN.

Material and methods

This article provides a narrative review.

Results

Central to the ethical debate is the trade-off between quantity and quality of life in the context of disagreement about the appropriate assessment of the decision-making capability of those affected and uncertainty with respect to prognosis. The debate is further complicated by heterogeneous and value-laden conceptualizations of key terms such as futility. The expertise of psychotherapists is needed at key points in the decision-making process about and in the implementation of EOL care for people with AN, both in direct patient care and in the training and support of other professional groups.

Conclusion

Important arguments both for and against EOL care must be weighed carefully on a case-by-case basis. The decision should therefore be made in an interdisciplinary and multiprofessional process and the involvement of legal and ethical experts is recommended. When providing EOL care for people with AN, a change of the goal of care back to sustaining life and normalizing weight and eating behavior needs to be possible at all times.