Abnormal Psychology

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Sample Outline

Name

Saint Leo University

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Abstract

Eating disorders among children are slowly rising. Disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia

Nervosa, and Bing eating are becoming apparent to vulnerable children found more common

among females. This paper will discuss children around the mean ages of 13-17 who are at risk

for developing an eating disorder as indicated by the DSM criterion, as well as targeting specific

characteristics of the disorder. This paper will focus on preventative measures as well as

treatment measures that have been found to show positive results as indicated by research and

recent studies performed by Le Grange and Stile-Shields (2015). The paper will also discuss a

couple of case studies looking at children who had reported having an eating disorder and will

discuss the treatments that were exposed to the patient.

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Eating Disorders Outline

Introduction

I. Eating disorders -An eating disorder is categorized by extreme emotions and behaviors around

food and weight issues. (DSM Criterion)

A.) Diagnostic criteria from the DSM (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)

1). Anorexia Nervosa

a.) Distorted body image and self-esteem issues

b. ) Low and dangerous weight, BMI less than 85% of median average

c.) Body image issues; pathological fear of gaining weight

2. Bulimia Nervosa

a.) Consuming large amounts of food for satisfaction followed by vomiting

b.) Sense of no control over eating episodes

c.) Self-esteem issues

d.) Must be once to twice a week as specified in DSM

3.Binge eating

a.) Consuming large amounts of food at one time even when not hungry;

specifically for DSM requirements must be at least four uncontrollable days per

month.

b.) Does not exercise or have preventative measures for weight gain

II. Prevalence and Incidence

1.Children and Adolescents

a.) Over half a million teens and adolescents struggle with some type of eating

disorder

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b.) 100,000 per year reported to suffer from some type of eating disorder

c.) In current study, 13% experienced one eating disorder during a follow up

treatment (Stice, Marti, & Rohde, 2013).

d.) Males are also affected by this disorder, not as common 5-10% are diagnosed

(Frasciello & Willard, 1995).

e.) Upon current rising rates of eating disorders among children we see that they

are prevalent and related to suicidal thoughts and use of health services.

III. Theoretical Perspectives on Causes of Disorder

1.Unrealistic idea of body image

a.) Media influences- Unreal bodies and faces of photo shopped models and actors

1a.) Fashion Magazines

2b.) Movies

3c.) Internet

b.) Psychological thin ideal-internalization, body dissatisfaction

1a.) Low self-esteem

2b.) Depression

3c.) Stress

c.) Social pressure- The pressure to be thin, to fit in and be popular

1a.) Social problem or withdrawal

d.) History of psychiatric disorders

1a.) Biological, chemicals in the brain that control hunger and appetite

2b.) Family history of anorexia, bulimia, or bing eating

3c.) Other mental disorders such as Schizophrenia and OCD have been explored

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IV. Treatment Approaches ("Eating Disorders," n.d., para. 3)

a.) At least 88% had shown some contact for service providers such as school services

b.) Only 28% actually discussed their issues with a professional, it’s important that

adolescents seek treatment based on their individual needs

c.) Counseling; is a form of therapy and treatment to help the patient identify and admit

the disorder; Driven exercises will be explored. (Siles-Shields, DcllinPsy, Lock, Le

Grange,2015).

d.) Psychotherapy

e.) Family therapy (Ciao, Accurso, Fitzsimmons-Craft, Lock & Le Grange, 2015).

Observing family functioning in treatments for adolescents with eating disorders.

f.) Inpatient care- if the patient experiences life threatening dangers due to their disorder

they will be placed in a hospital or inpatient care until the issue is resolved.

V. Case Example

1. Case 1: Ten year old female with 6 month history of Anorexia Nervosa

(Boachie,Goldfield, & Spettigue, 2003).

a.) Had previously showed signs of OCD 2 years prior

b.) The time of admission the patient showed signs of depression as classified by

the DSM

c.) When treatment (Olanzapine) was offered to gain weight through nasogastric

tube feeding, the patient experienced anxiety and poor sleep with reoccurring

thoughts of becoming fat.

d.) After weight increase after five weeks upon admission she showed positive

and successful signs of treatment.

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e.) Follow up indicated the patient was enjoying normal eating habits and no side

effects of the olanzapine.

2. Case 2: Eleven-year-old male who was admitted upon reports of low appetite and

weight loss for several months. (Abou-Saleh,Younis, Karim, 1998).

a.) Patient was teased by his peers and called fat numerous times

b.) No history of family illness

c.) Patient would feel nauseous upon observing food, and cry if he was forced to

eat it

d.) The patient had received excellent grades in school

e.) Patients mental state was depressed and always looked sad

f.) Upon admission for Anorexia Nervosa, patient was administered 50 mg of

imipramine and 1- mg of thioridazine.

g.) After 9 months he was discharged and a follow up after two years reports that

he was still anxious and irritable and lacked sleep.

VI. Conclusion

1. Brief review of introductory information on eating disorders and diagnostic criteria

a. Subtypes discussed in this paper include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and

binge eating disorder

b. Similarities and differences between diagnostic criteria of the subtypes

2. Discussion of the meaning of prevalence/incidence information and theoretical

perspectives.

a. Prevalence numbers in children and adolescents (brief review)

b. Theories that explain these numbers

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3. Discussion of treatment modalities and how they were applied in the case examples.

a. Case 1 was a demonstration of inpatient treatment (short term hospitalization)

b. Case 2 was a demonstration of long-term inpatient treatment.

4. Concluding thoughts on eating disorders as a whole and in the specifics of the case

examples.

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References

Abou-Saleh, M. T., Younis, Y., & Karim, L. (1998). Anorexia nervosa in an Arab culture.

International Journal Of Eating Disorders, 23(2), 207-212. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-

108X(199803)23:2<207::AID-EAT11>3.0.CO;2-X

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

(5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Boachie, A., Goldfield, G. S., & Spettigue, W. (2003). Olanzapine use as an adjunctive treatment

for hospitalized children with anorexia nervosa: Case reports. International Journal Of

Eating Disorders, 33(1), 98-103. doi:10.1002/eat.10115

Ciao, A. C., Accurso, E. C., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Lock, J., & Le Grange, D. (2015). Family

functioning in two treatments for adolescent anorexia nervosa. International Journal Of

Eating Disorders, 48(1), 81-90. doi:10.1002/eat.22314

Frasciello, L. M., & Willard, S. G. (1995). Anorexia nervosa in males: A case report and review

of the literature. Clinical Social Work Journal, 23(1), 47-58. doi:10.1007/BF02190591

Stice, E., Marti, C. N., & Rohde, P. (2013). Prevalence, incidence, impairment, and course of the

proposed DSM-5 eating disorder diagnoses in an 8-year prospective community study of

young women. Journal Of Abnormal Psychology, 122(2), 445-457.

doi:10.1037/a0030679

Stiles-Shields, C., DclinPsy, B. B., Lock, J., & Le Grange, D. (2015). The effect of driven

exercise on treatment outcomes for adolescents with anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

International Journal Of Eating Disorders, 48(4), 392-396. doi:10.1002/eat.22281

Types & Symptoms of Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/types-symptoms-eating-disorders