The future of eating disorders

Psychiatrist Jennifer Derenne specializes in eating disorders. Most eating disorders begin in adolescence, but they can appear much earlier – or later – in life, too. To begin healing, Derenne works with an interdisciplinary team to first stabilize and renourish her patients and uses evidence-based psychotherapy that incorporates strong family involvement. Recent clinical studies are exploring the use of psychedelics to open new avenues for treating these notoriously hard-to-treat illnesses. Eating disorders are a life-threatening medical condition, Derenne asserts, telling host Russ Altman that “food is the best medicine” on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected] Reference Links:Stanford Profile: Jennifer L. Derenne, MDConnect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionRuss Altman introduces guest Jennifer Derenne, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University.(00:03:11) Studying Eating DisordersJennifer’s path from pediatrics to psychiatry and studying eating disorders.(00:03:44) Types of Eating DisordersA breakdown of the main diagnoses and what distinguishes them.(00:04:59) Who Gets Eating Disorders?The age ranges of those affected and when symptoms first appear.(00:05:46) Disordered Vs. Normal EatingDistinguishing common weight concerns from dangerous dysfunction.(00:07:15) Treating Teen Eating DisordersWhy family involvement is crucial and treatment focuses on behaviors.(00:08:56) Genetics & Social MediaThe different risk factors that can contribute to disordered eating.(00:10:08) Smartphones & Mental HealthThe impact of smartphones on the development of coping mechanisms.(00:12:32) Transitioning to CollegeWhy mental health can destabilize during the move to independence.(00:15:51) Treating Eating DisordersThe multidisciplinary approach to treating disordered eating.(00:18:39) Supervision & SafetyThe importance of supervision and medical follow-ups to help prevent relapse.(00:21:03) AI in Adolescent Psychiatry​​The pros and cons of AI tools in adolescent mental health support.(00:25:21) The Limits of MedicationHow medications often target comorbidities rather than the eating disorder itself.(00:27:08) Psychedelics ResearchEmerging studies on using psychedelics in the treatment of eating disorders.(00:29:47) Future In a MinuteRapid-fire Q&A: curiosity, treatment optimism, and becoming a book editor.(00:31:48) Conclusion Connect With Us:Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.