PSY 350: Eating Disorders

anorexia nervosa

an ED characterized by maintaining extremely low body weight, fear of gaining weight; affects about 0.5% of women

anorexia nervosa DSM

restriction, intensive fear of gaining weight, disturbance in the way a body is experienced

restricting anorexia

the person has not regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior

binge-eating/ purging anorexia

the person has regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior

bulimia nervosa

ED characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by purging, accompanied by concern about body; affects 1-3%

bulimia nervosa DSM

recurrent episodes of binge eating, recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior, happen at least 1x weekly for 3 months

medical consequences of EDs

amenorrhea, anemia, skin issues, teeth issues, gut issues, pancreatitis, heart issues, suicide/ starvation (5-8%)

multidimensional risk factors in EDs

sociocultural, cognitive, and biological factors

sociocultural factors of EDs

social and culture ideals may play a role, more shy/ less social support (rate themselves as less socially skilled), media influences, dieting

cognitive factors of EDs

driven by need for perfectionism and need for control

cognitive factors of EDs

control needs come against a backdrop of family conflict where the girl has no control,  enmeshed family patterns, low self-efficiacy/ esteem, transdiagnostic model

enmeshed family patterns

family members are very over-involved with each other’s affairs, ED provides outlet for maladaptive control

transdiagnostic model of EDs

low self-esteem increases risk for over eval of body, leads to negative eating behaviors

distortion of body image

people with EDs tend to overestimate their own physical size and shape, measure by presenting a picture of yourself and asked to adjust based on how they look

biological factors in EDs

imbalance in serotonin; affects depression, also regulates mood and appetitie

treatment for EDs

often begins with emergency hospitalization, feed tube/ TV feeding

CBT for EDs

goal is to establish autonomy, rewards for eating, try to break perfectionist thoughts, eliminate emphasis on weight as index of self-worth, exposure with response prevention

treatment for anorexia

often combined with family based therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, SSRIs, group therapy, relapse rates are high and recovery can take years

interpersonal psychotherapy

used to identify areas for interpersonal improvement