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Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
Group Members:
Jasleen Kaur (3)
Ameesha Kumar (19)
Asmiuta Sharma (43)
Formally classified as "feeding and eating disorders" in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the term "eating disorders" represents a group of complex
mental health conditions that can seriously impair health and social functioning. Because of
the physical nature of their defining symptoms, eating disorders can cause both emotional
distress and significant medical complications. They also have the highest mortality rate of
any mental disorder.
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• Possible causes: nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, or other minerals), neglect, lack
of supervision, developmental disorders, family or environmental influences, and
certain mental health conditions.
• Symptoms – acquired taste for a specific substance, deficiency in minerals such as
zinc or iron, mental health disorders or developmental issues (OCD, imbalance in
brain chemicals, brain injury)
• Diagnostic Criteria:
A. Persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances over a period of at least
one month
B. The eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances is inappropriate to the
developmental level of the individual
C. The eating behavior is not part of culturally supported or socially normative
practice
D. If the eating behavior occurs in the context of another mental disorder or
medical condition it is sufficiently severe to warrant additional clinical
attention.
• Types of commonly used psychotherapy and interventions:
CBT, Family Based Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and
Commitment Therapy (ACT), Play Therapy (for kids), Nutritional Counseling, Skill-
Building and Emotional Regulation, Exploring Underlying Emotions and Trauma,
Identifying Triggers and Coping Mechanisms, Relapse Prevention, Mindfulness and
Grounding Techniques, Family and Environmental Interventions and medication if
needed. (In some instances, medication may be prescribed to address underlying
psychiatric conditions that contribute to PICA, such as anxiety or obsessive-
compulsive disorder).
• https://youtu.be/DokB8L7uGS0
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Anorexia Nervosa: Understanding the Eating Disorder
Definition
According to DSM 5 - A serious and possibly fatal mental health condition called anorexia
nervosa is characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight, a relentless pursuit of thinness,
and a distorted perception of one's body size and shape. People who suffer from anorexia
nervosa frequently severely restrict their food intake, which causes severe weight loss and
malnutrition. Those affected may feel overweight even though they are significantly
underweight, which fuels a relentless desire to lose even more weight.
Diagnostic Criteria
A. Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements
B. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent behavior that interferes
with weight gain, even though the person is at a significantly low weight.
C. C. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue
influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition
of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
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specify whether:
1.Restricting Type
2.Binge-Eating/Purging Types
The DSM-5 provides severity ratings based on BMI (Body Mass Index):
Symptoms
● Physical symptoms
A. Psychological Factors
➢ General Characteristics
➢ Personality Traits
B. Developmental Factors
➢ Peer factors
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➢ Early puberty risk
C . Occupational Factors
Fact: It is maladaptive, anorexia can sometimes serve as a person’s way to cope with
something painful in his or her life.
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Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/41WLzeudMvo
Bulimia Nervosa
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According to APA Individuals with bulimia nervosa exhibit recurrent episodes of binge
eating,engage in inappropriate behavior to avoid weight gain (e.g., self-induced vomiting),
and are overly concerned with body shape and weight. However, unlike individuals with
anorexia nervosa, binge-eating/purging type, individuals with bulimia nervosa maintain body
weight at or above a minimally normal level.
Characteristics:
1.Consuming an unusually large amount of food in a short period of time (binge eating).
2.Getting rid of the food (purging). Purging may involve making yourself throw up
(vomiting) or taking laxatives. Laxatives are medications that speed up the movement of food
through your body.
3.Misuse of water pills (diuretics) or diet pills.
4.Eating very little or not at all (fasting).
5.Excessively exercising.
6.Hiding food to binge and purge later.
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Diagnostic Criteria:
A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized
by both of the following:
1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount
of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a
similar period of time under similar circumstances.
2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that
one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain,
such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other
medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.
C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on
average, at least once a week for 3 months.
D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa.
Causes: The exact cause for bulimia nervosa is not known but genetics and learned
behaviours are the factors affects individual.
Treatment:
Psychotherapy:
1.Cognitive behavioral therapy to help you normalize your eating patterns and identify
unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones.
2.Family-based treatment to help parents intervene to stop their teenager's unhealthy eating
behaviors, to help the teen regain control over his or her eating, and to help the family deal
with problems that bulimia can have on the teen's development and the family.
3.Interpersonal psychotherapy, which addresses difficulties in your close relationships,
helping to improve your communication and problem-solving skills.
Nutritional counseling: Nutrition counseling involves learning healthier ways to eat. You'll
work with a registered dietitian or counselor to get back on track.
Medication: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a type of antidepressant. They can
reduce the frequency of binge eating and vomiting. But the long-term effectiveness of these
drugs isn’t clear. They’re also effective at treating anxiety and depression. These conditions
are common among people with bulimia nervosa.
Support groups: Support groups can be helpful when used with other forms of treatment. In
support groups, people and their families meet and share their stories.
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YouTube link: https://youtu.be/6q0IGdPwfOU
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