Which clinical manifestations would the nurse identify with severe anorexia nervosa?


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  • Fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even when severely underweight.
  • Body image disturbance.
  • Amenorrhea or absence of menstrual period.
  • Depressive symptoms such as depressed mood, social withdrawal, irritability, and insomnia.
  • Preoccupation with thoughts of food.
  • Feelings of ineffectiveness.

What are expected clinical manifestations of anorexia nervosa?

Frequently skipping meals or refusing to eat. Denial of hunger or making excuses for not eating. Eating only a few certain “safe” foods, usually those low in fat and calories. Adopting rigid meal or eating rituals, such as spitting food out after chewing.

What are expected findings for a client with bulimia nervosa ATI?

Having a distorted, excessively negative body image. Repeatedly eating unusually large quantities of food in one sitting, especially foods the person would normally avoid. Strict dieting or fasting after binge eating. Not wanting to eat in public or in front of others.

What are the three essential diagnostic features of anorexia nervosa?

  • Restriction of calorie consumption leading to weight loss or a failure to gain weight resulting in a significantly low body weight based on that person’s age, sex, height and stage of growth.
  • Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming “fat.”
  • Having a distorted view of themselves and their condition.

What are characteristics of clients with anorexia nervosa?

The former research suggests that anorexic patients possess a psychological profile characterized by: a phobia of weight gain and fear of loss of control; alexithymia and lack of introceptive awareness; mistrust of self and others; cognitive dysfunction; low self-esteem; and often the presence of starvation-induced …

What happens to the body in anorexia nervosa?

With weight loss, those with anorexia experience nutritional deprivation, resulting in physical changes in their hair, skin and nails. As starvation occurs, blood flow slows, resulting in intolerance to cold temperatures and a bluish tint in the tips of fingers and ears (Brown & Mehler, 2017).

How is someone diagnosed with anorexia?

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even when significantly underweight. Disturbance about body weight or shape, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of current low body weight.

Which long term health effect is highly associated with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa?

One of the top long-term health risks of anorexia has to do with our bones. Nearly 90 percent of women with anorexia experience a condition known as Osteopenia, which translates to a loss of bone calcium.

Which of the following is a way that anorexia nervosa is different from bulimia nervosa?

Which of the following is a way that anorexia nervosa is different from bulimia nervosa? Anorexia is associated with binge eating, and bulimia is associated with starvation.

What are the characteristics of individuals who are more likely to develop anorexia nervosa?

People who suffer from anorexia nervosa tend to have high levels of harm avoidance, a personality trait characterized by worrying, pessimism, and shyness, and low levels of novelty seeking, which includes impulsivity and preferring new or novel things (Fassino et al., 2002).

What other disorders might occur with anorexia nervosa?

  • Anxiety.
  • Depression.
  • Substance abuse/alcohol.
  • Self-injury.
  • Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

What are 4 characteristics of anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by emaciation, a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight, a distortion of body image and intense fear of gaining weight, a lack of menstruation among girls and women, and extremely disturbed eating behavior.

Which of the following is one of the characteristics of people suffering from anorexia nervosa quizlet?

Which of the following is one of the characteristics of people suffering from anorexia nervosa? Their life revolves around food.

Which patient type is considered the most likely to suffer from anorexia nervosa?

Teen girls between 13 and 19 and young women in their early 20s are most at risk.

Does anorexia cause low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure may seem advantageous, but it can also harm a person’s health. Eating disorders, like anorexia, can lead to abnormally low blood pressure, also called hypotension. In many instances, anorexia involves a restricted diet caused by a compulsive desire to achieve a specific body image.

What are three long term effects of anorexia?

  • Bone weakening (osteoporosis).
  • Anemia.
  • Seizures.
  • Thyroid problems.
  • Lack of vitamins and minerals.
  • Low potassium levels in the blood.
  • Decrease in white blood cells.
  • Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation in females).

Can anorexia cause shortness of breath?

Anorexia can also cause people to have shortness of breath or rapid breathing [7].

What assessment is used for anorexia nervosa?

These exams and tests generally include: Physical exam. This may include measuring your height and weight; checking your vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature; checking your skin and nails for problems; listening to your heart and lungs; and examining your abdomen.

What are the two types of anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa may be divided into 2 subtypes: Restricting, in which severe limitation of food intake is the primary means to weight loss. Binge-eating/purging type, in which there are periods of food intake that are compensated by self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, and/or excessive exercise.

What is the perceived body image of a person suffering from anorexia nervosa?

Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa perceive their bodies as being larger than they are and this disturbed body representation affects their movements, according to new research.

Which of the following is a physiological change often associated with anorexia nervosa?

Which of the following is a physiological change often associated with anorexia nervosa? fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.

What is the pathophysiology of anorexia?

Patients with anorexia nervosa have altered brain function and structure there are deficits in neurotransmitters dopamine (eating behavior and reward) and serotonin (impulse control and neuroticism), differential activation of the corticolimbic system (appetite and fear), and diminished activity among the …

What is atypical anorexia nervosa?

It’s called atypical anorexia nervosa. The patient, usually a young woman, has all the symptoms of anorexia except that she’s not underweight. The atypical anorexia patient is usually someone who has historically been overweight. Obsessed with getting thinner, she has been dieting and exercising excessively.

What are two long-term effects of anorexia?

Many individuals who struggle with anorexia have some form of osteopenia or osteoporosis, creating an increased risk of breaks and fractures. Yet other long-term effects for women include loss of normal menstruation, difficulties conceiving, infertility and more.

What is a potential outcome of anorexia If the condition is left untreated?

Long-term lack of nutrition, from calories to vitamins, overwhelms the body and brain. Even in the short term, physical consequences can be severe. Anything from heart failure to the hair falling out might result if disordered eating habits continue and steps aren’t taken to get help.

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