Eating Disorders

Question 1

What are some common eating problems that people experience?

Answer 1

• Eating problems can vary and involve concerns related to health, energy, and enjoyment of food, but they can also be linked to cultural beauty standards.
• Eating disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, are prevalent in some cultures and can be triggered by stressful events, maladaptive beliefs, and other psychological problems.

Question 2

What is Anorexia Nervosa? What is the specifier?

Answer 2

• Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, restricting food intake, and maintaining a very low body weight.
• People with this disorder often have a distorted view of their weight and shape and are preoccupied with food.
• they may also suffer from other psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety, and experience health problems like amenorrhea and low body temperature.
• Specifiers for Anorexia:
  o Restricting type no binge eating and purging in the last 3 months
  o Binge-eating, purging type  recurrent binge eating and purging in the last 3 months
   Mild = BMI ≥ 17,
   Moderate= BMI 16-16.99,
   Severe = BMI < 15

Question 3

How is Anorexia Nervosa diagnosed?

Answer 3

• According to the DSM, Anorexia Nervosa is diagnosed when an individual purposely takes in too little nourishment, resulting in a body weight that is very low and below that of other people of similar age and gender.
• They must also be very fearful of gaining weight, have a distorted body perception, and place inappropriate emphasis on weight or shape in self-judgments.

Question 4

What is Bulimia Nervosa?

Answer 4

• Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like purging, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• People with this disorder may feel unable to control how much they eat and experience a sense of guilt or shame after binge eating.
• They may also suffer from other psychological problems and can have a normal weight.

Question 5

How is Bulimia Nervosa diagnosed?

Answer 5

• The DSM diagnoses Bulimia Nervosa when an individual repeatedly engages in binge-eating and ill-advised compensatory behaviors, such as forced vomiting or the use of laxatives or drugs, to prevent weight gain.
• These symptoms must take place at least weekly for a period of 3 months, and the individual must have an inappropriate influence of weight and shape on the appraisal of themselves.

Question 6

What is the difference between Bulimia and Anorexia (Binge eating, purging specifier)

Answer 6

• One major distinction is weight
  o Anorexia – underweight
  o Bulimia generally normal weight
• Bulimia
  o more concerned about others and being attractive to them
  o Prone to mood swings and have problems with coping strong emotions
  o More prone to having a personality disorder (borderline)
  o Less likely to have irregular menstrual periods
  o Repeated vomiting is bad for teeth, gums, cardiovascular diseases, medical problems

Question 7

What is binge eating disorder according to DSM criteria?

Answer 7

• According to the DSM criteria, binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating that occur at least once a week for a period of three months. - -
• Binge eating episodes include at least three of the following features: unusually fast eating, eating when not physically hungry, uncomfortable fullness, secret eating due to shame, and subsequent feelings of self-disgust, depression, or severe guilt.
• The individual experiences significant distress as a result of the binge eating, and there is an absence of excessive compensatory behaviors.

Question 8

What are the biological perspectives on binge eating disorder?

Answer 8

• The biological perspectives on binge eating disorder include brain chemistry, brain structure, genetics, evolution, and inflammation.
• Brain chemistry perspectives suggest that imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin (Lower in bulimia and anorexia, lower nutrition intake lead lowered serotonin but serotonin can predispose)
  and dopamine (Lower in eating disorders) may play a role in the development of binge eating disorder.
• Brain structure and function perspectives suggest that high HPA axis activity and cortisol levels, unresponsive or overly responsive reward pathways, and weight set point may also contribute to the disorder.

Question 9

What are the treatments for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder (biological perspective)?

Answer 9

• For anorexia, treatment involves antidepressants, such as SSRIs, which block the reuptake of serotonin, but it must be combined with eating.
  o Antipsychotics may also be used, as a side effect is weight gain which is needed.
• For bulimia, antidepressants such as Fluoxetine (Prozac and Sarafem) may be used, but they have high dosage, more side effects, and high relapse, and do not work well in all patients.

Question 10

What are some potential causes of eating disorders according to the psychodynamic perspective?

Answer 10

• Conflicts in the oral stage, ego deficiencies, and (insecure) attachment problems, such as parents resisting a child’s autonomy and independence or responding to crying with food instead of addressing potential other needs.
• What is the function of eating in response to parenting according to this perspective?
  o Eating is a sense of control and a coping mechanism for individuals who feel pressure to be perfect by complying with parental expectations.

helped by understanding emotions and interpreting hunger

Question 11

What are some treatments for eating disorders according to the cognitive-behavioral perspective?

Answer 11

• Exposure plus response prevention to purging and binging, gradually increasing calories and educating about food intake, using diaries to track triggers of binge eating, and challenging negative thoughts about self and control.
  Treatment
  o Enhanced CBT (CBT-E)
  o Core Pathology  Self worth based on how much you can control your body shape (not achievements)
  o Psychoeducation

Question 12

How does the humanistic perspective view the relationship between psychological distress and eating disorders?

Answer 12

• Psychological distress can lead to eating problems, and negative emotions may be related to eating disorders due to impaired capacity to understand and regulate emotions in certain rearing environments.
• What is the goal of therapy according to this perspective?
  o To help individuals understand, accept, and deal with their emotions more effectively by recognizing that all emotions are functional.

Question 13

What are the socio-cultural perspectives related to eating disorders?

Answer 13

• The Western ideal of thinness and the societal pressure to decide one’s own worth based on appearance are the socio-cultural perspectives related to eating disorders.
• However, this is considered an overly simplistic explanation.
• Additionally, there is a higher prevalence of eating disorders in females who may base their self-worth on appearance.