Anorexia - A Brain Disorder?

Running head: ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

Anorexia - A Brain Disorder?

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ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

Cites five or more references, using at least two new scholarly resources that were not

provided in the course materials.

5 pages

Using theDSM-5diagnostic criteria and evidence-based scholarly articles, address the

anorexia. How would you assess for these changes?

evidence-based therapy.

Criteria for this paper:

rationale for all decisions.

ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

Individuals with Anorexia disorder typically suffer from and severely low body weight relative

to their height and body type. The disorder is characterized by an abnormally extreme fear on

gaining weight. The individual suffering the disorder have a distorted perception of weight with

the majority of them placing a higher value on controlling their body weight and shape.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)

(2019) "At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the

U.S. 1. Every 62 minutes, at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. 13% of women over 50

engage in eating disorder behaviours." It is against this background that this paper looks into

the neurology, personal and social behaviour changes, and health consequences of Anorexia

chronic illness among teenagers, and it affects approximately 1 in every 100 women in the

United States. Individuals with anorexia nervosa often adopt potentially life-threatening

measures to retain their body image and shape. For instance, some may intentionally restrict

ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

their food intake while others may resort to excessive physical exercises in the effort as a result

of their extreme fear of becoming fat. Other may adopt drastic measure such as the use of

laxatives or intentional vomiting in order to cut down their weight. Additionally, it was

interesting to learn the majority of the individual with anorexia often don't want treatment

because their obsession with body image overrides g concerns about their well-being.

The characterization anorexia nervosa is quite surprising to me. Firstly, it was surprising to learn

that anorexia nervosa is relatively common in America. At first, I had thought anorexia nervosa

In addition, the symptoms of the anorexia were somewhat weird to me. Being a relatively new

disorder to me, I was surprised to learn that the symptoms could sometimes be extreme to the

point of causing injury or even death. Some of the extreme symptoms of the disorder include

Firstly, it is essential to talk to the individual about their perception of their body image to help

them gain a more realistic image. Secondly, it is necessary for the family members to provide

the individual with as much information about the disorder as possible. Reading widely about

anorexia helps to separate facts and myths about body weight, beauty, and nutrition. Moreover,

the family and the society, in general, should remove the potential stigma associated with being

fat or obese in order to help those at the risk of anorexia overcome negative perceptions (Sibeoni

ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

et al. 2017). Lastly, it is important to encourage them to seek professional help, especially when

they adopt life-threatening lifestyles.

Like the other mental disorders, anorexia affects an individual's thinking pattern, perception of

reality and sometimes, personality. A person with anorexia way at a risk of recurring conditions

such as mood and anxiety disorders, which may ultimately how he or she relates with others.

They are also at the risk of abusing substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin etc. The

individual may develop suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Research has established that people with anorexia are vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and

perfectionism and self-critical behaviour. These genetic vulnerabilities contribute to distorted

perceptions and unhealthy eating habits. According to Gulf Bend Center (2017), people with

anorexia bulimia tend to be competitive, and they compare their appearances against unrealistic

standards. All these vulnerabilities significantly affect how the individual thinks, perceives

others, and even how they relate with others.

The above-mentioned changes in behaviour and personality can be used to diagnose anorexia.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), developed and published by the

American Psychiatric Association (Sibeoni et al. 2017).

Health consequences and medical complications of anorexia

ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

be fatal, and death may occur suddenly even when the individual is not severely underweight.

For instance, the adverse health effects of anorexia on the body can cause abnormal heart

rhythms as well as arrhythmias) or an imbalance of electrolytes. Some important minerals,

including sodium, calcium and potassium, are important in maintaining the balance of body

fluids.

Moreover, an individual with anorexia becomes severely malnourished, and this eventually

damages some internal organs. In extreme cases, the damage to internal body organs may not be

before the compilations of the disorder put him or her at risk.

mental health professionals and dieticians. Psychotherapy has been found to be an effective

treatment approach for anorexia. Family-based therapy is an evidence-based treatment method

for young individuals with anorexia. Given that the individuals with anorexia are unable to make

good eating and nutrition choices due to their distorted perceptions, family-based therapy

mobilizes parents or guardians to help them with re-feeding as well as body weight restoration.

ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?

Moreover, family-therapy can be coupled with individual therapy to help improve the

individual's condition effectively. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has shown to help

improve anorexia symptoms hence the need for healthcare providers to adopt in the treatment of

the condition. The main goal of CBT is to normalize the individual's eating patterns. In addition,

it helps to normalize behaviours to support the individual's weight gain and healthy lifestyle.

CBT also aims to positively transform the individual's distorted thoughts and beliefs by helping

him, or she sees things in a different and more realistic perspective. With improve the perception

of self and the world in general, the individual is able to maintain healthy eating habits.

In a nutshell, this paper has looked into the neurology, personal and social behaviour changes,

and health consequences of Anorexia nervosa. As mentioned earlier, Anorexia nervosa is a

psychological and sometimes potentially life-threatening eating disorder. Individuals with

Anorexia disorder typically suffer from and severely low body weight relative to their height and

them gain a more realistic image. Secondly, it is necessary for the family members to provide

the individual with as much information about the disorder as possible. Reading widely about

anorexia helps to separate facts and myths about body weight, beauty, and nutrition. Family-

based therapy is an evidence-based treatment method for young individuals with anorexia.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has shown to help improve anorexia symptoms hence the

need for healthcare providers to adopt in the treatment of the condition.

ANOREXIA - A BRAIN DISORDER?