2016 Articles

The Promise of Music Therapy: Understanding and Treating Individuals With Comorbid Eating Disorders and Physical Disabilities

Hershenson, Kimberly

Research has historically dismissed the prevalence of eating disorders in people with disabilities, yet studies and clinical observations suggest that individuals with physical disabilities are at increased risk for developing eating disorders. Due to this discrepancy, there is little awareness of how to treat eating disorders among this population. Self-understanding is a key component in treating both individuals with physical disabilities and individuals with eating disorders. With this finding, this article seeks to demonstrate that music therapy is an effective treatment option for those with both an eating disorder and a physical disability due to its focus on self-understanding.