Psycopathology CH 10 - Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa diagnosis

1 - Purposely taking in little to no nourishment resulting in body weight that is very low and below others of a similar age

2 - Fear of gaining weight or repeatedly seeks to avoid weight gain

3 - Distorted body images, Inappropriate emphasis on weight/shape, Fails to appreciate implications of low weight -

Progression of Anorexia Nervosa + Demographic info

1 - Begins with a slightly overweight person who is on a diet

2 - Escalation towards AN follows a stressful event

3 - Vast majority of cases in women and girls

4 - Can be lifelong and potentially fatal

Clinical Picture of Anorexia Nervosa (Patient perspective)

End goal is to become thin

Key motivator is fear

Low opinion of body shape

Overestimate body proportions

Hold maladaptive attitudes and misperceptions of ones own body

Clinical Picture of Anorexia Nervosa (Medical perspective)

Amenorrhea (Absence of menstruation

BP, body temp, bone mineral density, heart rate DROPS

Body Swelling RISES

Skin, nail and hair problems

Bulimia Nervosa Diagnostic Checklist

1 - Repeated binge eating episodes

2 - Repeated performance of ill advised compensatory mechanisms

3 - Symptoms occur weekly for a period of 3 months

4 - Inappropriate influence of weight and shape into appraisal of oneself

Progression of Bulimia Nervosa + Demographic Statistics

1- Begins with a person who is slightly overweight on an intense diet

2 - 83% of cases are women and girls

3 - Begins in adolescence

4 - Weight fluctuates but remains largely the same

Binges

Episodes of uncontrollable eating in very large amounts (2000-3500 calories at a time)

Done in secret

Episodes followed by extreme guilt, shame, self blame, depression, and fear of gaining weight

Inappropriate compensatory behaviors for Bulimia Nervosa

Vomiting, Laxatives, diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise

Binge Eating Disorder Diagnostic Checklist

1. Recurrent Binge eating episodes

2. Contain at least 3 of the following symptoms:

Unusually fast eating, Absence of hunger, Uncomfortable fullness, Secret eating due to sense of shame, Subsequent feelings of disgust/shame

3. Weekly symptoms for a period of 3 months

4. Absence of compensatory behaviors

Characteristics of Binge Eating Disorder

People feel as if they have no control over their eating

67% are women or girls

Later age of onset (adulthood)

As a result of condition, patients tend to be overweight/obese

Main difference between Anorexia/Bulimia and Binge Eating Disorder

Patient thinness

Causes of eating disorders

Multidimensional (Mostly sociocultural pressures)

1. Societal Pressures

2. Body dissatisfaction

3. Family environment

4. Gender

Examples of some societal pressures as a cause for eating disoders

Western standards for women

Socially accepted prejudice against obese/overweight individuals

Influence of models, actors, athletes, dancers

Race/economics

Social Media

Body dissatisfaction as a cause for eating disorders

Negative self evaluation

Family environment as a cause for eating disorders

Perfectionist parents

Family values/norms

Enmeshed family patterns

Controlling

Gender impact on the causes of eating disorders

Higher rates of eating disorders in LGBTQ than cis gendered individuals

Men are as likely as women to develop unhealthy eating habits but only account for 25% of diagnoses

Goals of treatment for eating disorders

Correct dangerous eating patterns

Social Support groups and building community

Address psychological, cognitive, and situational fears

What is the most effective treatment model for eating disorders

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Goals of CBT regarding treatment of eating disorders

Create alternate stress and problem solving strategies

Monitor feelings, hunger levels, food intake, exercises, control

Most successful when continued for at least one year beyond recovery and supplemented with other approaches such as group and family therapy