Eating Disorders

Question 1

What is the screening tool for eating disorders?

Answer 1

SCOFF

More than 2 = eating disorder likely

Question 2

What is anorexia nervosa?

Answer 2

Restriction of intake = weight reduction

Compensatory mechanisms when food can not be avoided = vomiting, laxatives exercise, diuretics

Question 3

What are the symptoms of anorexia nervosa?

Answer 3

Cold intolerance
Blue hands/feet
constipation and bloating
Amenorrhea
Dry skin
Fainting and hypotension

Question 4

What is bulimia nervosa?

Answer 4

Episodes of binge eating
Followed by compensatory behaviour of purging
Minimum of 2 times a week for 3 months

Question 5

What are the S+S of bulimia nervosa?

Answer 5

Mouth sores
Pharyngeal trauma
Chest pain
Oesophageal rupture
muscle cramps and weakness
Irregular periods
Hypotension and fainting

Question 6

What is binge eating disorder?

Answer 6

Similar to bulimia nervosa but no purging behaviour

Question 7

How do people avoid calorie intake?

Answer 7

Diets
Not touching food
Developing dislikes
All symptoms = allergy or indigestion
Eating slowly
Avoiding social occasions
Spoiling foods
Medication abuse

Question 8

How to people get rid of calories?

Answer 8

Vomiting
Chewing + spitting
Overexcercise
Overactivity
Cooling
Blood letting
Medication abuse

Question 9

What are some other eating disorder behaviours?

Answer 9

Body checking
Weight loss to elicit attention
Looking at pro-ana websites
Competing with others
Self harm if rules are broken

Question 10

Why do eating disorders matter?

Answer 10

Psychological consequences
Social consequences
Physical consequences

Question 11

What are the psychological consequences of eating disorders?

Answer 11

Overvaluation of low weight and thin/lean shape
Weight-losing feels like a solution not a problem
Difficulty seeing the bigger picture
Starved person is unable to interpret emotion also depression, anxiety and loss of concentration

Question 12

What are the social consequences of eating disorders?

Answer 12

People are forced to lie, cheat and steal about eating disorder concerns

Withdraw from friends and relationships

Question 13

What are the physical consequences of eating disorders?

Answer 13

Physical damage = poor repair and resistance, heart damage, reduced immunity anaemia, bone loss and fertility problems

Purging = neuro-chemical disruption

Poor pubertal development, brain growth and development

Question 14

What are the 3 factors of eating disorders?

Answer 14

Predisposing
Precipitating
Perpetuating factors

Question 15

What are the predisposing factors of eating disorders?

Answer 15

Genetic predisposition - OCD, anxiety and perfectionism
Perinatal factors
Life events and trauma
Perpetuating consequences of starvation and avoidance

Question 16

What are the precipitating factors of eating disorders?

Answer 16

Puberty
Dieting
Increased excercise
Stressful life events (neglect, abuse, losses, separations, bulling)

Question 17

What are the perpetuating factors of eating disorders?

Answer 17

Starvation syndrome =

• Delayed gastric emptying
• Narrowing focus
• Obsessionality (phobia of being fat)
• High emotion in carers may delay recovery

Question 18

What is the link between anorexia and death?

Answer 18

Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psych disorder
1/2 from starvation and the other from self harm

Question 19

How can we help with eating disorders?

Answer 19

Re-feeding
CBT for normal weight
Interpersonal therapy
SSRI or olanzapine
Specialised family work

Question 20

Human rights and eating disorders

Answer 20

Scottish mental health act give us the responsibility to treat people even in the absence of consent to save life or prevent deterioration