INVESTIGATING ANOREXIA NERVOSA

By: Jahzmin ZunigaPsychology

Period 2

What is Anorexia Nervosa?-Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological disorder usually common in young women that is characterized by a fear of becoming obese, a distorted self-image, an unwillingness to eat, and severe weight loss. This disorder is usually followed by self- induced vomiting, excessive amounts of exercise, malnutrition, etc.

Associated Features- Feelings and Behaviors:• Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms• Perfectionism• Physical Complications( heart problems, Osteoporosis, Hypothermia)• Need for control• Concerns about eating in public

A.

Associated Features

• Starvation associated with the disorder causes a dry and cracking of the skin, slowed heart beat, yellowing of the skin, impaired kidney functioning, bone deterioration and anemia. Those who self-induce vomiting experience dental enamel erosion and scarring of hand skin from contact with teeth.

Associated FeaturesEating Disorder Diagnostic Criteria from DSM IV-TR

307.1 Anorexia Nervosa

* Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height, for example, weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85%

* Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.

* Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced

* In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. A woman having periods only while on hormone medication.

ETIOLOGY• There is no single cause for the

existence of anorexia. It comes from a mixture of social, psychological, and biological factors. The contribution of media pressuring women to be thin has been a prominent factor.

• Anorexia may be an attempt by young women to gain control and separate from their mothers.

• Refusal to obtain or maintain normal weight

• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even if already underweight.

• Distorted perception of weight or shape

• Denial of serious abnormal low body weight

Prevalence• If you were born in the spring, your chances of developing this

disorder are greater. A doctor and her team collected data of birth dates of 1,293 people who were diagnosed with anorexia. They discovered that a high number of patients were born between March and June and for every seven anorexic cases expected, there were eight.

• Out of 100 patients with this disorder, about 75 to 80 will be female patients.

• It is more common in women, affecting 1-2% of the female population and only 0.1-0.2% of males.

• Anorexia nervosa is seen mainly in Caucasian women who have goal oriented families.

• Females remain conscious about their looks and physique as compared to most males. That is why they are more prone to developing this eating disorder.

TreatmentTreatment- Seeing a doctor, counseling sessions, healthy weight, and healthy eating habits.Behavioral family therapyMedical treatmentNutritional counselingFamily therapyPsychological CounselingAnti-depressant drug therapyPsychotherapy

Treatment

• THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT ANOREXIA NERVOSA IS THAT, WITH PROPER TREATMENT, RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING WITH ANOREXIA, DO NOT HESITATE TO HELP THEM GET THE TREATMENT THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED!

Prognosis• The National Institute of Mental

Health estimates that one in ten anorexic cases ends in death from starvation, suicide or medical complications like heart attacks or kidney failure.

• Experienced treatment programs have a two-thirds success rate in restoring normal weight

• Women who develop this eating disorder at an early age have a better chance of complete recovery. Most people with anorexia will continue to prefer a lower body weight and be preoccupied with food and calories to a certain extent.

References Nordqvist, C. (2011). Anorexia more likely to affect those born in spring. Retrieved from

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/223786.php

Disanto, G. (2011). Season of birth and Anorexia nervosa. Retrieved from

http:www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/222786.php

Ballas, P. (2006). What characterizes anorexia nervosa? Retrieved from

http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/anorexia-nervosa-dictionary.htm

Myers, D.G. (2011). Myers psychology for ap. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Discussion Question

• Is anorexia nervosa really more common than it used to be, or is it just being identified more?