Psychology: Eating Disorders
Psychological Disorders: Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have drastically been on the climb in the recent years. It has become increasing popular to be extremely thin and focus on the superficial aspects of the body. Currently 8 million people are living with some kind of eating disorder. There are three different types of eating disorders that include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. These are all psychological disorders that can be very detrimental if not treated and improved upon. While all three of these disorders have extreme risk and consequences the most well know are anorexia nervousa and bulimia nervousa. Although these psychological disorders are greatly related with the desire to be thin there is a much deeper backgrounds to be explored. A Psychological disorder which also known as a mental disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. Psychological disorders come in many different variations and cannot be grouped in to one explanation, theory or adaptation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) gives a full explanation of the 5 groups of psychological disorders which are Axis I: Clinical Syndromes, Axis II: Personality and Mental Retardation, Axis III: Medical Conditions, Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems, and Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning. Eating disorders Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa are a part of Axis I: Clinical Symptoms because this group is described as clinical symptoms that cause significant impairment. They are seen as a disorder that you are not born with but establish with life experiences and mental health underdevelopment.
The DSM-IV explains four criteria for anorexia nervosa (APA, 1994). One is a refusal to maintain body weight over a minimal normal weight for age and height. The second is a strong fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though they may be
Eating disorders have drastically been on the climb in the recent years. It has become increasing popular to be extremely thin and focus on the superficial aspects of the body. Currently 8 million people are living with some kind of eating disorder. There are three different types of eating disorders that include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. These are all psychological disorders that can be very detrimental if not treated and improved upon. While all three of these disorders have extreme risk and consequences the most well know are anorexia nervousa and bulimia nervousa. Although these psychological disorders are greatly related with the desire to be thin there is a much deeper backgrounds to be explored. A Psychological disorder which also known as a mental disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple life areas and create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. Psychological disorders come in many different variations and cannot be grouped in to one explanation, theory or adaptation. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) gives a full explanation of the 5 groups of psychological disorders which are Axis I: Clinical Syndromes, Axis II: Personality and Mental Retardation, Axis III: Medical Conditions, Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems, and Axis V: Global Assessment of Functioning. Eating disorders Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa are a part of Axis I: Clinical Symptoms because this group is described as clinical symptoms that cause significant impairment. They are seen as a disorder that you are not born with but establish with life experiences and mental health underdevelopment.
The DSM-IV explains four criteria for anorexia nervosa (APA, 1994). One is a refusal to maintain body weight over a minimal normal weight for age and height. The second is a strong fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though they may be
Bibliography: Brooks, S. J. (n.d.). A Debate on Current Eating Disorder Diagnoses in Light of Neurobiological Findings. Medscape Log In. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/774938 DSM. (n.d.). American Pychiatric Association. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from http://www.psychiatry.org/practice/dsm Levitt, J. L., Sansone, R. A., & Cohn, L. (2004). Self-harm behavior and eating disorders: Dynamics, assessment, and treatment. New York: Brunner-Routledge. Scudder, L. (2011, January 21). Eating Disorders in Pediatric Primary Care. Medscape Log In. Retrieved April 22, 2013, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/735215 Smolak, L., & Thompson, J. K. (2009). Body image, eating disorders, and obesity in youth: Assessment, prevention, and treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. South Carolina Department of Mental Health. (2006, April). Eating Disorder Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm