Mental Capacity in Anorexia Nervosa

In Tipping the Scales: Ethical and Legal Dilemmas in Managing Severe Eating Disorders. Westmorland P (Ed). American Psychiatric Association Publishing

This chapter attempts to provide some guidance on how to assess mental capacity in cases of severe anorexia. It provides information on clinical variables such as BMI, treatment history, and appreciation that may influence capacity, and discusses the role of personal values and relationships in decision-making. It describes how combining the qualitative assessment using the MacCAT-T with clinical judgment can improve the assessment of mental capacity, and highlights the importance of ensuring the patient retains say where possible (eg by working with them to decide on aspects such as timing, implementation or cessation of compulsory treatment).

https://books.apple.com/us/book/tipping-the-scales/id1537705718

https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.books.9781615379743.lg04