Chapter 9: Eating Disorders and Sleep-Wake Disorders Flashcards
What are the common symptoms/feature related to anorexia nervosa?
Severe weight loss due to significant restriction of calorie intake or self-starvation.
Excessive fear of gaining weight.
Distorted body image
Failure to recognize risks posed by abnormally low body weight
Why is understanding one’s self-perception of their body image and weight important for the purposes of treatment?
Failure to recognize risks posed by abnormally low body weight
- Although others may observe someone being “extremely thin”, the individual may perceive themselves as overweight.
- Recent research has indicated that self-perceptions of one’s body image is the key factor in predicting prognosis (i.e., will the patient improve or continue to struggle with the disorder).
Binge-eating/purging type
Frequent episodes of binge eating or purging over a 3 month period
Alternating between rigid control and impulsive behavior
Substance abuse
Restrictive type
Rigid and obsessive about diet and appearance.
No binging or purging episodes.
Medical complications of anorexia nervosa
Extreme cases can be fatal
Losses of as much as 35% of body weight, and anemia
Dermatological problems - Dry, cracking skin; fine, downy hair; yellowish discoloration of the skin
Menstrual irregularities - absence or suppression of menstruation
Cardiovascular complications - Irregularities, hypotension, and associated dizziness upon standing, sometimes causing blackouts
Muscular weakness/Abnormal growth of bones – Especially prevalent in young adolescents
Increased risk of death - About 5% to 20% of cases, due either to suicide or to malnutrition from starvation
What is the main feature related to bulimia nervosa that could be characterized as “going from one extreme to the other”?
Characterized by recurrent episodes of gorging on large quantities of food, followed by compensatory behaviors. Episodes occurring at least once a month for at least 3 months
Purging by means of self-induced vomiting.
Use of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.
Fasting or engaging in excessive exercise
Medical complications of bulimia nervosa
Repeated vomiting Skin irritation around the mouth Blockage of salivary ducts Decay of tooth enamel and dental cavities Damage to taste receptors on the palate Abdominal pain, hiatal hernia Disturbed menstruation Stress on pancreas (pancreatitis) Laxative dependency Potassium deficiency High rates of early death
Sociocultural factors of bulimia nervosa
Comparing one’s own body to media images of the perfect body can lead to body dissatisfaction.
- Body dissatisfaction leads to disturbed eating behaviors.
Four out of five young women in the United States have gone on a diet by the time they reach their 18th birthdays.
College women report that regardless of how much they weighed, about 80% report dieting
What are some of the emotional factors and other disorders associated with bulimia nervosa?
Binge eating as a way of coping with emotional distress.
- Often accompanied by depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance-related disorders.
- More likely to have experienced childhood sexual and physical abuse.
Why would competitiveness in families be thought of as a significant risk factor?
Competing to see who can be the skinniest or look the “best”
Which types of psychiatric medications are often used for bulimia nervosa?
Serotonin imbalance may play a role with bulimia nervosa.
Prozac and Zoloft, increases serotonin activity, can decrease binge-eating episodes in bulimic women
Which age group tends to have a higher prevalence of binge-eating disorder?
Tends to occur more with older individuals (30’s & 40’s) compared to adolescents/young adults.
How does guilt play a role in the development and course of binge-eating disorder?
Feeling guilty about their overeating will cause them to feel more stressed and lead to more overeating to cope with the feelings of stress
What are some reasonable ideas from within U.S. culture that contribute to obesity?
A diet containing too much high-fat, high-calorie, and supersized portions that are growing ever larger
More prevalent among lower income levels
What are some of the effects of insomnia disorder that can impact daily functioning?
Causes significant personal distress and impaired functioning in meeting daily responsibilities.
Affects concentration, attention, response time, problem solving, and memory.
Associated with physical health problems, including impaired immune system functioning
Consider what insomnia means, is it simply difficulty with falling asleep at night?
Difficulties falling asleep, remaining asleep, or achieving restorative sleep
What are the features/behaviors related to hypersomnolence disorder?
Difficulty awakening following a prolonged sleep period (typically 8 to 12 hours).
Repeated episodes of sleepiness during day, frequent naps, dozing off.
Distress or difficulties in daily functioning.
what is the common treatment for hypersomnolence disorder?
Treated with stimulant medication
Common features and physical episodes/conditions of narcolepsy
Sudden episodes of sleep without warning.
Immediate transition from wakefulness into REM sleep stage.
Occurs at least 3 times a week for a period of 3 months
Sometimes associated with:
- Cataplexy (sudden loss of muscular control)
- Sleep paralysis (temporary state following awakening in which person is incapable of moving or talking).
What are the desired effects of sleep medications (for all sleep-wake disorders) and what are the risks associated with this treatment?
Reduce the time it takes to get to sleep, increase total length of sleep, and/or reduce nightly awakenings
Problems associated with sleep medications:
- Suppression of REM sleep and interference with restorative function of sleep
- Rebound insomnia
- Chemical dependence
- Psychological dependence
