Harm reduction in severe and long-standing Anorexia Nervosa – part of the journey but not the destination. A narrative review with lived experience

Abstract

This study is a review of the current evidence for harm reduction in the treatment of severe and long-standing Anorexia Nervosa, with a critique of the ethical defensibility of this approach alongside the inadequacies of pre-existing terms such as "severe and enduring Anorexia Nervosa".The study concludes that at present harm reduction lacks a robust evidence base and should not be considered the end point of treatment.Further research is required to identify new efficacious treatments and inform the role harm reduction may have for this subset of patients.