Chapter 10 - Eating Disorders and Sleep Disorders

Question 1

eating disorder

Answer 1

A psychological disorder characterized by disturbed patterns of eating and maladaptive ways of controlling body weight.

Question 2

anorexia nervosa

Answer 2

An eating disorder characterized by maintenance of an abnormally low body weight, a distorted body image, intense fears of gaining weight, and in females, amenorrhea (absence or supression of menstruation).

Question 3

bulimia nervosa

Answer 3

An eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by self-induced purging, accompanied by overconcern with body weight and shape.

Question 4

Anorexia Nervosa:

Description

Answer 4

Self-starvation, resulting in minimal weight for one’s age and height or dangerously unhealthy weight.

Question 5

Anorexia Nervosa:

Associated Features

Answer 5

• Strong fears of gaining weight or becoming fat
• Distorted self-image (perceiving oneself as fat despite extreme thinness)
• Two general subtypes: binge-eating/purging type, and restrictive type
• Potentially serious, even fatal, medical complications
• Typically affects young, European American women.

Question 6

Bulimia Nervosa:

Description

Answer 6

Recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by purging.

Question 7

Bulimia Nervosa:

Associated Features

Answer 7

• Weight is usually maintained within a normal range
• Overconcern about body shape and weight
• Binge-purge episodes may result in serious medical complications
• Typically affects young European American women

Question 8

Binge-Eating Disorder (a proposed diagnosis requiring further study):

Description

Answer 8

Recurrent binge eating without compensatory purging.

Question 9

Binge-Eating Disorder (a proposed diagnosis requiring further study):

Associated Features

Answer 9

• Individuals with BED are frequently described as compulsive overeaters
• Typically affects obese women who are older than those affected by anorexia or bulimia

Question 10

Diagnostic Features of Anorexia Nervosa

Answer 10

1. Refusal to maintain weight at or above the minimal normal weight for one’s age and height; for example, a weight more than 15% below normal.
2. Strong fear of putting on weight or becoming fat, despite being thin.
3. A distorted body image in which one’s body—or part of one’s body—is perceived as fat, although others perceive the person as thin.
4. In case of femalse who have had menarche, absense of three or more consecutive menstrual periods.

Question 11

Diagnostic Features of Bulimia Nervosa

Answer 11

1. Recurrent episodes of binge eating (gorging) as shown by both:
   
   1. Eating an unusually high quantity of food during a 2-hour period, and
   2. Sense of loss of control over food intake during the episode.
2. Regular inappropriate behaviour to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; abuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas; or fasting or excessive exercise.
3. A minimum average of two episodes a week of binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviour to prevent weight gain over a period of at least 3 months.
4. Persistent overconcern with the shape and weight of one’s body.

Question 12

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Answer 12

A standard measure that takes both body weight and height into account.

Question 13

binge-eating disorder (BED)

Answer 13

A disorder characterized by recurrent eating binges without subsequent purging; classified as a potential disorder requiring further study.

Question 14

obesity

Answer 14

A condition of excess body fat; generally defined by a BMI of 30 or higher.

Question 15

sleep disorders

Answer 15

Persistent or recurrent sleep-related problems that cause distress or impaired functioning.

Question 16

Insomnia

Answer 16

Difficulties falling asleep, remaining asleep, or achieving restorative sleep.

Question 17

dyssomnias

Answer 17

Sleep disorders involving disturbances in teh amount, quality, or timing of sleep.

Question 18

primary insomnia

Answer 18

A sleep disorder characterized by chronic or persistent insomnia not caused by another psychological or physical disorder or by the effects of drugs or medications.

Question 19

hypersomnia

Answer 19

A pattern of excessive sleepiness during the day.

Question 20

narcolepsy

Answer 20

A sleep disorder characterized by sudden, irresistable episodes of sleep.

Question 21

breathing-related sleep disorder

Answer 21

A sleep disorder in which sleep is repeatedly disrupted by difficulty with breathing normally.

Question 22

circadian rhythm sleep disorder

Answer 22

A sleep disorder characterized by a mismatch between the body’s normal sleep-wake cycle and the demands of the environment.

Question 23

parasomnias

Answer 23

Sleep disorders involving abnormal behaviours or physiological events that occur during sleep or while falling asleep.

Question 24

nightmare disorder

Answer 24

A sleep disorder characterized by recurrent awakenings due to frightening nightmares. Typically occurs during REM sleep.

Question 25

sleep terror disorder

Answer 25

A sleep disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of sleep terrors resulting in abrupt awakenings. Unlike nightmares, sleep terrors tend to occur during the first third of nightly sleep and during deep, non-REM sleep.

Question 26

sleepwalking disorder

Answer 26

A sleep disorder involving repteated episodes of sleepwalking. (Interestingly, because these episodes tend to occur during the deeper stages of sleep in which there is an absence of dreaming, sleepwalking episodes do not seem to involve the enactment of a dream).

Question 27

What are the major types of eating disorders?

Answer 27

Two major types of eating disorders are included in the DSM: anorexia nervosaa and bulimia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and failure to maintain normal body weight, intense fears of becoming overweight, distorted body image, and in females, amenorrhea.

Bulimia nervosa involves preoccupation with weight control and body shape, repeated binges, and regular purging to keep weight down.

Another type of eating disorder, binge-eating disorder (BED) is presently classified as a potential disorder requiring further study.

Question 28

What factors are implicated in the development of eating disorders?

Answer 28

Eating disorders typically begin in adolescence and affect more females than males. Anorexia and bulimia are linked to preoccupations with weight control and maladaptive ways of trying to keep weight down. Many other factors are implicated in their development, including social pressures on young mwomen to adhere to unrealistic standards of thinness, issues of control, underlying psychological problems, and conflict within the family, especially over issues of autonomy. People with BED tend to be older than those with anorexia or bulimia and to suffer from obesity.

Question 29

What are the major forms of treatment for eating disorders?

Answer 29

Severe cases are often treated in an inpatient setting where a refeeding regimen can be closely monitored. Behaviour modification and other pyschological interventions, including psychotherapy and family therapy, may also be helpful.

Most cases of bulimia are treated on an outpatient basis, with evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of cognitive-behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and antidepressant medication.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy and antidepressant medication have proven effective in treating binge-eating disorder.

Question 30

What are the major types of sleep disorders?

Answer 30

Sleep disorders are classified in two majors categories: dyssomnias and parasomnias.

Dyssomnias are disturbances in the amount, quality, or timing of sleep. They include five specific types: primary insomnia, primary hypersomnia, narcolepsy, breathing-related sleep disorder, and circadian rhythm sleep disorder.

Parasomnias are disturbed behaviours or abnormal phsysiological responses occuring either during sleep or at the threshold between wakefulness and sleep. Parasomnias include three major types: nightmare disorder, sleep terror disorder, and sleepwalking disorder.

Question 31

What are the major forms of treatment for sleep disorders?

Answer 31

The most common form of treatment for sleep disoders involves the use of antianxiety drugs. However, the use of these drugs should be time limited because of the potential for psychological and/or physiological dependence, among other problems. Cognitive-behavioural interventions have produced substantial benefits in helpign people with chronic insomnia.