Bojan Sladojević
Oddelek za otroško in mladostniško psihiatrijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Boštjan Mal
Oddelek za otroško in mladostniško psihiatrijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Denis Mušič
Oddelek za otroško in mladostniško psihiatrijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Domen Pečnik
Oddelek za otroško in mladostniško psihiatrijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Dragana Pavlović
Oddelek za otroško in mladostniško psihiatrijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Metka Knez
Oddelek za otroško in mladostniško psihiatrijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Simona Izgoršek Mirnik
Oddelek za otroško in mladostniško psihiatrijo, Pediatrična klinika Ljubljana Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija
Abstract
Eating disorders in children and adolescents represent a serious medical and psychosocial challenge, associated with high morbidity, mortality, and a risk of chronic disease course. Among mental disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest mortality rate and often requires inpatient tertiary care. The aim of this article is to present contemporary principles of comprehensive tertiary treatment for pediatric eating disorders, based on several profession-al contributions. Special emphasis is placed on nutritional rehabilitation, refeeding syndrome, multidisciplinary and family-based approaches, and the role of nursing care. Retrospective data indicate that hospitalizations are most frequent during middle adolescence and predominantly affect females, although eating disorders are also clinically significant in males. Modern treatment models emphasize early detection, structured and safety-oriented care, active parental involvement, and the central role of nurses as key coordinators of the therapeutic process. The integration of structured nutritional protocols and supportive tools significantly improves patient safety, medical stabilization, and long-term treatment outcomes.
Key words: eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, tertiary care, refeeding syndrome, nutritional rehabilitation, nursing care, multidisciplinary team, adolescents