victoria schonwald

BMI is not a measure of brain recovery. Anorexia nervosa is one of the only psychiatric illnesses in which discharge decisions are often tied to a number on a scale. Once a minimum BMI is reached, stabilised bloods, and a restored heart rate are achieved, treatment intensity is frequently reduced. But if anorexia is a disorder of the brain, why are we measuring recovery primarily by body weight? Weight restoration is essential. Without it, there is no recovery. But stopping at the lower...

There is growing attention on the psychological and neurocognitive effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Much of the discussion asks whether these medications themselves cause mental health harm. That question, however, starts in the wrong place. The more useful question is not whether GLP-1s are “good” or “bad”, but whether we are adequately accounting for what happens to the human brain when energy availability falls below physiological need, regardless of how that reduction occurs. This is...

Gastrointestinal symptoms in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) are increasingly recognised as more than coincidental. While joint hypermobility is often the most visible feature, research now shows the gastrointestinal tract can be significantly affected, sometimes to the point where oral intake is no longer sufficient to maintain nutrition. For some individuals, gut dysmotility leads to progressive weight loss, dehydration, and micronutrient deficiencies. Yet in hospital settings,...