Understanding Eating Disorders: Criteria, Types, and Treatments for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa
This chapter outlines the diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa according to DSM-IV-TR. It identifies the key features of each disorder, including types such as restricting and binge/purge in anorexia, and purging and non-purging in bulimia. A range of medical complications associated with these disorders is discussed, alongside contributing biological, sociocultural, and psychological factors. The chapter also emphasizes treatment approaches for both anorexia and bulimia, aiming to enhance awareness and understanding of these eating disorders.
Understanding Eating Disorders: Criteria, Types, and Treatments for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 15 Eating Disorders
DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa • Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height • Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, despite being underweight • Distortions in the perception of one’s body weight or shape, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight • In females who have reached menarche, amenorrhea (absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles)
Types of Anorexia Nervosa Restricting type of anorexia nervosa: simply refusing to eat as a way of preventing weight gain. Some might go for days without eating. Binge/Purge type of anorexia nervosa: binging or purging behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives or diuretics). Yet it is different from bulimia nervosa in two main ways: 1.People with the binge/purge type of anorexia nervosa will continue to be at least 15% below a healthy body weight. 2. Women with this type of anorexia may also develop amenorrhea, whereas women with bulimia nervosa do not.
Common Medical Complications • Cardiovascular complications • Metabolic complications • Fluid and electrolyte complications • Hematological complications • Dental problems • Endocrine complications • Gastrointestinal complications
DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Bulimia Nervosa • Recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by • 1) eating in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances • 2) a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode • Recurrent inappropriate behaviors to prevent weight gain such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives. • The binge eating and inappropriate purging behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months. • Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
Non-purging type of bulimia nervosa: people who use excessive exercise or fasting to control their weight but do not engage in purging are said to have a non-purging type of bulimia nervosa. Purging type of bulimia nervosa: people who use self-induced vomiting or purging medications. Types of Bulimia Nervosa
Common Medical Complications of Bulimia Nervosa • Renalcomplications • Gastrointestinal complications • Electrolyte complications • Dental problems • Laxative abuse complications • Other abnormalities and complications
Binge-Eating Disorder • Another eating disorder that resembles bulimia nervosa in many ways, except that the person with binge-eating disorder does not regularly engage in purging, fasting, or excessive exercise to compensate for his or her binges.
Contributors to the Eating Disorders • Biological Factors • Genetic predisposition to eating disorders • Predisposition to depression • Dysregulation of hypothalamus • Serotonin imbalances
Contributors to the Eating Disorders, continued • Sociocultural and Psychological Factors • Pressures to be thin • Cultural norms of attractiveness • Use of food as a way of coping • Overconcern with others’ opinions • Rigid, dichotomous thinking style, perfectionism • Poor family dynamics • History of sexual abuse
