What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder in which a person refuses to eat enough to maintain a healthy body weight.

Individuals with anorexia also may exercise obsessively, or they may use laxatives, diuretics or enemas in order to lose weight. Although a patient is classified as anorexic when they weigh at least 15% less than the appropriate weight recommended for their height, this weight loss is driven by a psychiatric condition. Some of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:

intense fear of weight gain and constant pursuit of thinness
distorted body image; despite excessive thinness, self-perception of being overweight
extreme restriction of food intake, calorie counting
low self-esteem that revolves almost entirely around body shape and weight

Anorexia is most common in women aged 18 to 35 years. Some individuals with anorexia may recover permanently after one instance of the disease, while others might recover and then relapse. Some people with anorexia may continue to battle this disease throughout their lives. Frequently, anorexia coexists with other psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, panic and substance abuse.

Anorexia can take a serious toll on an individual’s health. Among the health problems that may develop as a result of anorexia nervosa are:

discontinuation of menstrual periods in women
thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis) due to calcium loss
brittle hair/nails, hair loss
dry, yellowish skin
mild anemia and muscle wasting, including wasting of the heart muscle
constipation
low blood pressure, slowed breathing and pulse rates
low body temperature, leading to feeling cold frequently
depression, fatigue

The initial goal of treating a person with anorexia nervosa is to restore the patient to a healthy weight and stabilize their health. This care may be provided on an outpatient or inpatient basis, along with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy helps patients with anorexia to understand the distorted thought process that led them to become anorexic.

Once the patient is stabilized and safe, the underlying psychiatric issues are addressed. This is done through individual psychotherapy. In addition, patients with anorexia also may benefit from group and family therapy. Medications such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications may relieve some of the anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms associated with this condition.

Because of the risk for physical harm associated with anorexia nervosa, it is important that any treatment address the psychiatric and physical aspects of this disease.

Sources:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/index.shtml

http://www.psychiatry.org/eating-disorders