Characterization of Having Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a psycho logic sickness that is characterized by marked load loss, an vehement fear of gaining angleiness, a distorted bole image, and amenorrhea (Johnson 1996). It primarily affects adolescent girls and come ons in approximately 0.2 to 1.3 percent of the general existence (Johnson 1996). There are numerous complications of anorexia nervosa, involving close to all organ system, in time close to complications whitethorn be reversed when a healthy nutritional state is restored (Johnson 1996). intercession involves nutritional and psychological rehabilitation, and may be administered on an inpatient or outpatient theme (Johnson 1996).By the age of eighteen, more than 50 percent of fe manfuls apprehend themselves as alike fat, condescension having a normal weight, therefore it is not surprising that the prevalence and incidence rates of anorexia nervosa (and bulimia) tend to be high in certain populations, such(prenominal) as college sororities (Joh nson 1996). In this type of environment, there is a high priority fit(p) on thinness and dieting is a parkland practice (Johnson 1996). This condition generally begins in adolescence to early adulthood, with onset at a mean of 17 years of age, moreover it has been reported in grade-school children and middle-aged persons (Johnson 1996).Anorexia nervosa rarely occurs in developing countries, and is roughly gross in industrialized societies, such as Great Britain, Sweden, Canada, and the United States, where food is advantageously obtained and a high priority is placed on slenderness (Johnson 1996). Patients with anorexia maintain a trunk weight less than 85 percent of normal either by means of weight loss or by refusal to make judge weight gains during multiplication of normal growth (Johnson 1996).Criteria for anorexia nervosa as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical manual(a) of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV includeA.Refusal to maintain remains weight at or preceding(p renominal) a minimally normal weight for age and height.B.Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.C.Disturbance in the way in which one frame weight or act upon is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the authoritative economic crisis body weight.D.In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least(prenominal) three consecutive menstrual cycles A woman is considered to take over amenorrhea if her periods occur only following hormone, e.g., estrogen, administration (Johnson 1996).During the current episode of anorexia nervosa, the individual has regularly occupied in binge-eating or purging behavior, i.e., self-induced sick or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas (Johnson 1996). Individuals with anorexia nervosa have a disturbed perception of their induce weight and body- shape (Johnson 1996). round individuals dig themselves as overweight even though they are emaciated, whi le other perceive only certain parts of their body as fat (Johnson 1996).Although anorexia nervosa typically develops during adolescence, late-onset complaint may emerge in adulthood after thriving pregnancies and child upbringing (Tinker 1989). When a patients weight falls infra 70 percent of ideal body weight, hospitalization and use of a nasogastric subway system and hyperalimentation may be required (Tinker 1989).Many adults who have anorexia nervosa resist an raring(p) psychiatric admission, however they fucking be managed on an outpatient basis by a team consisting of the family physician, a psychotherapist and a nutritionist (Tinker 1989). With careful attention to important concepts of care, interventional skills and positive attitudes toward patient care and recovery, most patients with eating disorders can be expected to do well, however the expectation that every patient will develop altogether normal behaviors and interpersonal relationships may be unrealistic ( Tinker 1989).Julie K. OToole, M.D. reported to a conference sponsored by the North Pacific Pediatric Society, that despite joint perceptions among medical professionals and the general public, anorexia nervosa is not a psychosocial disease, only when is a idea disorder and should be seen as such (Finn 2005). OToole claims she has treated children who were home-schooled on farms with no tv and no access to fashion magazines, however she does admit that the images of thinness in the media do make it more difficult to secure remission (Finn 2005).Moreover, several formal epidemiologic studies have failed to find any wed between anorexia and social class, and that the disease has been seen in non-Westernized Arabic girls, as well as Asians (Finn 2005). Thus, according to OToole, by rejecting the purely psychoanalytic paradigm allows the patient to receive the alike compassion and understanding as do victims of other medical diseases (Finn 2005).The most common physical examinati on findings are lanugo, bradycardia, and hypotension, osteopenia and osteoporosis (Harris 1991). checkup complications include pain and retarded alter of the stomach, excessively dry skin, intolerance to coldness weather, constipation, and edema (Harris 1991). opposite complications include decreases in heart size and the development of abnormal blood flow dynamics through the heart chambers and valves (Harris 1991).Laboratory abnormalities can include anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and disturbances of thyroid function (Harris 1991). Some studies have found that undernourishment may result in a prodigious stunting of growth in male adolescents, but has only a peripheral effect in female adolescents (Stein 2003). Other investigators note advanced skeletal increment during growth retardation, resulting in permanent foreshortening, in a female patient but not in male patients (Stein 2003).A recent study found that anorexia nervosa patients who were fir ed while underweight had a worsened outcome and higher rate of re-hospitalization than those who had achieved a stable weight (Maloney 1997). A periodical joint care conference on the medical ward is critical for successful management, and for outpatient treatment, the clinician sets the target weight as that weight necessary to regain menses and knap bone demineralization (Maloney 1997).