Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa
DSM-IV-TR Anorexia Nervosa: nervous loss of appetite Anorexia: loss of appetite
Anorexia Nervosa Characterized by: Intense fear of becoming fat or obese Distorted body image Refusal to maintain minimal body weight Cessation of menstruation Pattern of self-starvation More common among affluent well-educated adolescent girls from affluent countries
AN Cont d Highest onset between ages 14-18 Females 8-11 times more likely than Males Has been stated to be on the increase (usual caveats here) Can be lethal and certainly causes physical problems
Central Features Drive Preoccupation Cognitive/Perceptual Psychological & Mood Medical Problems
Physical Problems Hypothermia (low internal heat) Low Blood Pressure Reduced Bone Density Amennorhea Electrolyte Imbalances Cardiac Problems Death (estimates range between 6 and 50%)
Personality Obsessional, perfectionistic, heightened need for control Prickly not real warm fuzzy
Video Video Anorexia
Bulimia Nervosa: Characteristics Also known as Binge Purge Syndrome Binges and Compensatory Behaviours Weight usually stays in normal range (might fluctuate) Some become significantly underweight
Bulimia Nervosa Two Subtypes (Based on the compensatory behaviours): Purging (use of laxatives, diuretics, vomiting Nonpurging (fasting and exercise)
Bulimia Nervosa cont d Again, well educated, from affluent families, terrified of becoming fat More prevalent (1 or 2/100) than AN and especially common among specific groups College women Private women s colleges (10 25%)
Bulimia Nervosa (Binge-Purge Syndrome) Binge: Uncontrollable eating (binges) Occurs over discrete period of time Consumes considerably more food than most would eat (> 3000 calories in some cases) during the time: Gobbles, with minimal chewing, sweet taste, high caloric content, soft texture Food hardly tasted or thought about
Binges Aware that binges are not normal Have fears that unable to stop binges Shame, guilt, self-blame and depressed after episodes The frequency of binges can range (reports of 2 40 / week, although 10/week is average)
Compensatory Behaviour Compensatory Behaviour: Done to get rid of calories from the binges - Purging: Vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, - Other: Fasting, excessive exercise - smoking, chewing gum
Physical Problems Dental Erosion Electrolyte imbalances Cardiac problems
BulimiaVideo Clips Comer Video Bulimia 1
Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia Nervosa Loss of Control in BN opposite to AN BN more concerned about pleasing others and more sexually experienced than those with AN AN & BN: dieting is major risk factor and often disorder starts with episode of dieting AN & BN: Usually chronic and intermittent
Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia Nervosa Lack of insight in AN (i.e., don t see behaviour or body as necessarily abnormal) Insight in BN (i.e., know binges and compensatory behavior not normal, hence the secretiveness)
Distinction between AN and BN Not so clear as once thought Can have both at different times Anorexia Nervosa: Restricting Type Binge/Eating Purging Type Jessica AN & BN
Eating Disorders in General
Anorexia Deaths What do we know about Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Deaths What do we know about Anorexia Nervosa? 1. Life Threatening
Anorexia Deaths What do we know about Anorexia Nervosa? 1. Life Threatening 2. Predominantly in Women
Anorexia Deaths What do we know about Anorexia Nervosa? 1. Life Threatening 2. Predominantly in Women 3. Predominantly in Young Women
Method Data from National Center for Health Statistics (US Database) Multiple Cause of Death Records For all death certificates registered between 1986 and 1990 N = 10,600,000 (that s right 10 million 6 hundred thousand subjects)
Death Record Consisted of: Demographic information Cause of death (i.e., underlying cause of death) Up to 20 death related conditions (disorders or diseases) present just prior to or at the time of death Primary Cause and Contributing Cause
Selected Ss with AN as primary or contributing cause of death
Results 724 individuals with AN listed as primary or contributing cause (149/ year) Predominantly female (79%)
Replications BC Data from Stats Canada Replication: Median age of death: 80 years Norway (Reas et al., 2006) Replication: Mean age of death from AN: 61 years Thirty one percent of deaths from AN were men