Eating Disorders Flashcards
Who does eating disorders usually affect?
Perfectionist, high achieving young women with low self-esteem.
Co-morbid with other MH disorders e.g. depression
When does dieting become an eating disorder?
When thinness becomes an all consuming pursuit
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Involves weight loss methods causing extreme emaciation
Prevalence- 0-6%
Onset is usually in girls aged 16-22 and affects all social classes
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
Involves binge eating followed by vomiting
Prevalence- 1%
BN is more common than AN, however BN is probably largely undetected since patients are usually as secretive as in AN, but are not as obviously emaciated.
BN usually starts in mid-adolescence.
What is a Binge eating disorder?
Bulimia nervosa without purging
Prevalence- 2.8%
Aetiology
Genetic Psychological theories Socio-cultural Personal History Family
Genetic causes?
- In AN, heritability is about 58%.
- MZ:DZ twin concordance rates are 65:32.
- Genes are less salient in BN.
Psychological theories causes?
- Perfectionism and low self-esteem are risk factors for both AN and BN.
- Theories for AN include the idea that successful weight loss enhances the patient’s sense of achievement, autonomy and perfectionism.
When life feels uncontrollable, AN comforts by providing the ability to control something (weight).
The disorder can also be seen as a way of avoiding separation from family or becoming an independent sexual being (it maintains dependency on close family and a peri-pubertal physique).
Socio-cultural causes?
•Social pressures to be thin and the promotion of dieting are important influences on the development of both AN and BN.
•High risk groups include occupations where emphasis is on weight or body image (models, athletes and dancers).
western society
Personal History causes?
- People with BN often have a history of obesity and up to 50% have previously suffered from AN (the reverse pattern occurs less frequently).
- Experiences of child abuse are commonly found in AN and BN, but no more so than in other psychiatric illness.
Family causes?
- Parental overprotection and family enmeshment are associated with AN.
- Enmeshment describes relationships that are over-involved, with poor boundaries making it difficult for members to feel independent.
- BN is connected with disturbed family dynamics, parental weight concern and high parental expectation.
- FHx of obesity, depression or substance misuse are also risk factors.
The 4 main diagnostic points for Anorexia Nervosa?
ICD10
- BM1 <17.5/ 15% less than expected
- Deliberate weight loss e.g. calorie counting, laxatives, excessive exercise, appetite suppressants
- Distorted Body image
- Endocrine dysfunction- HPG axis affected causing amenorrhea, impotence, loss of libido. (if began before puberty menarche and breasts affected)
General physical complications? (6)
- Lethargy
- Cold intolerance
- Pancytopenia (severe anorexia)
- Anaemia, leuocpenia, thrombocytopenia
- Infections
- Dental caries
Cardiovascular complications? (7)
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension (postural drop)
- Arrhythmia’s (secondary to hypokalaemia)
- Mitral valve dysfunction
- Cardiac failure
- Sudden death
- Prolonged QT
Over 80% will have CV complications
GI complications? (5)
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Ulcers, Oesophageal tears
- Delayed gastric emptying- makes patient feel bloated even after small amounts
- Nutritional hepatitis occurs in a third of patients, detected by low serum protein with raised bilirubin, raised LDH and raised alkaline phosphatase.
Reproductive complications? (4)
- Amenorrhea
- Infertility- due to atrophy of ovaries and testicles
- Loss of libido
- Low birth weight infant
MSK complications? (2)
- Osteoporosis- fractures
2. Proximal myopathy
Neurological complications? (4)
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Delirium
- Seizures
- Loss of brain volume (ventricular enlargement, sulcal widening, cerebral psuedoatrophy that will return
to normal once normal eating habits resume)
Dermatological complications? (3)
- Brittle hair
- Dry scaly skin
- Laguno hair- fine hair that usually grows on a foetus in the womb
What is the purpose of the laguno hair?
It is the bodies attempt to keep warm following body fat loss