ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a 12-year-old girl who had significant difficulty with food. Starting abruptly when she was 10 years old, she suffered unremitting symptoms ascribed to gastroenteritis. It had not been possible to identify an organic cause following detailed and extensive investigation. While much of the multidisciplinary clinical evidence pointed towards a behavioural component to her condition, some of the conventional indicators of anorexia nervosa were not considered to be present, and the court dealing with her case emphasised the necessity to keep an open mind as to her diagnosis. The behavioural aspect of her condition touched on other areas of her clinical management. That stark description of the compulsion to be employed in treating this 12 year old, separated from her family, is disheartening, spelling out severe interference with her freedom. The overall emphasis, ironically, is to return the girl to independence.
