Feeding and Eating Disorders

These flashcards encompass key terms and definitions related to feeding and eating disorders, including various disorders and their clinical features, epidemiology, treatment options, and psychological and sociocultural factors.

Anorexia Nervosa

Condition characterized by restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight and intense fear of gaining weight.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measurement that compares body weight to height, used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity.

Amenorrhea

Absence of menstruation for at least three consecutive months, often seen in individuals with anorexia nervosa.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating without compensatory behaviors such as purging.

Compensatory Behaviors

Actions taken to counteract binge eating episodes, such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or fasting.

Pica

Feeding disorder involving persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances.

Rumination Disorder

Feeding disorder where recently eaten food is regurgitated, re-chewed, or spit out.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Disorder characterized by restricted or inadequate eating, often to regulate emotions or due to unpleasant experiences.

Comorbidity

The presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition, such as anxiety or depression with eating disorders.

Psychological Treatments

Therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) aimed at addressing the psychological aspects of eating disorders.

Sociocultural Theories

Theories that attribute the development of eating disorders to societal pressures, cultural standards of beauty, and internalization of the thin ideal.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A form of psychotherapy that helps patients change distorted thinking patterns related to body image, weight, and eating.

Vulnerability Factors

Characteristics or conditions that increase the likelihood of developing an eating disorder, such as perfectionism or family history.

Mortality Rate

The rate of death in a population; eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.

Psychodynamic Perspectives

Theories focusing on how unconscious processes and childhood experiences influence the development of eating disorders.