Common Types of Eating Disorder - Coursework Example

Running Head: A review of Walsh J (2007) Theory, Intervention Design, Evaluation Rigour and Implications for Practice Eating disorder Introduction Eating disorder is an abnormal behavior in which someone eats either excessive food or insufficient food (Stice & Shaw, 2007). The three common types of the eating disorder is Bulimia nervosa, Anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder. According to American Psychiatric Association (1994), Bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa have been registered as diagnostics entities in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Binge eating disorder is yet to be recognized as a diagnostics entity but it has already been proposed. Previous interventions Previous interventions have been done before to try and cure eating disorder. There is no known cause for eating disorder. However, there are factors that have been associated with it. Numerous Studies taken point out that genetics could be a leading cause in a patient developing eating disorders (Frieling et al 2010; Mazzeo & Bulik, 2009 & Klump, et al, 2001). These are biological factors associated with the eating disorder. There are factors that are considered to cure any eating disorder caused by genetics. It has been suggested that by re-identifying any bad eating habits, then the eating disorder can be cured (Bulemia Anorexia, 2011). Additionally, epigenetics is also a known cause for causing any eating disorder. According to Freiling et al (2010), epigenetics is a mechanism in which the gene expression is altered by the environment through methods like DNA methylation. Freiling et al suggest that the process is actually irreversible although it may happen during a lifespan or inherited. According to Campbell et al (2011), eating disorder caused by epigenetics can be cured by pharmacological interventions or understanding the epigenetic changes which are associated with weight and diet and which are reversible. Apart from biological factors, there are also physiological factors that cause the eating disorder. The main issue that can cause a physiological eating disorder is depression. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, depression is the leading cause for eating disorders. This type of psychological disorder can be treated by drugs which can only be administered by the doctor (Collier, 2010). An additional physiological factor that can cause an eating disorder is the personality traits. As a child matures in to adolescent, they are entangled in a world in which they do not understand what is actually required of them. Their body changes that occur mostly during puberty for instance growth of hair on their public places and adjustment in their body size can also cause this eating disorder (Sinai et al, 2009). Children who are also brought up in a neglected environment also tend to acquire the eating disorder. This kind of physiological eating disorder can be treated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. This type of cure is usually performed by a physiatrist (Ehle et al, 1982). One of the main environmental factors that can cause eating disorder is peer pressure. According to Page and Suwanteerangkul (2007), peer pressure is the main factors that can cause eating disorder in adolescents. According to findings done, most of the adolescent who are reported to be dieting said that it was due to peer pressure. They reported to be dieting simply because their friends were doing so (Mcknight Investigators, 2003). The number of friends who were pressurizing them to do diet and also additionally the number of friends who were dieting were the core determinants in the way they made their choices. These kinds of eating disorders are treatable by seeing a physician. A physician who understands empathy should be administered in this case. This will assist the patient in recovering from their eating disorder (Rukavina & Pokrajac-Bulian, 2006). Intervention design The basis of the findings of this journal is done through English literature review. A lot of findings prove that the theoretical basis of this book is true. The two common types of eating disorder are Bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. In treatment and overcoming of anorexia nervosa, one of the key factors is to determine whether the patient is suffering from anorexia nervosa or not. The primary care physician who is involved must be very attentive and watch out for certain traits or characteristics especially in young women (Kornhuber, 2010). After a person is diagnosed of any type of eating disorder, then the nutritionist, primary care physician and a mental health profession should be included in treating the patient. The three of them should be in a position to communicate and refer in a regular basis. The work that the primary care physician will be undertaking will include coordinating the treatment process, managing any medical complications and aiding in the determination of the patient being admitted. If the patient is not in a position to see a nutritionist or mental health profession, then the work of the primary care physician is to use a contract setting in regards to weight and food intake so that they can assist the patient in seeing why the treatment is useful for them. Some of the factors that may raise suspicion include concern from any of the family members, low weight and also a continuous weight loss. Anorexia nervosa also contains some of the following symptoms. Abdominal discomfort might be one of the symptoms to watch out for, constipation, bloating, the inability to tolerate cold and amenorrhea. Some of the other traits that should be observed include insomnia, menstrual history and weight loss pattern (Meyers et al, 1986). Some of the signs which might prove to be evident during physical examination include a yellow skin and lanungo hair. Irregular cardiac rhythm and peripheral edema may also be signs to watch out for (Johnson et al 1986). A complete laboratory evaluation of blood count, urea nitrogen and magnesium should also be done. Other questions that they patient should be asked includes what the patient thinks of her body, does the patient consider him/herself to be fat or thin and is the patient on any dieting pills. If this kind of evaluation of the patient is done, then the next step is to diagnosing the patient and treating them. Apart from the general principles which apply to any eating disorder, patients suffering from anorexia nervosa and the management team involved in helping them should have a target weight (Birmingham, Goldner & Bakan, 1994). When a target weight is being set, it is appropriate to set a weight in which the patient had previously lost. The weight gain should be very gradual and they should be weighed weekly at the same time of the day. All the patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa should be given multi vitamins with should have calcium and iron (Katz et al 1987). The primary physician care should ensure that when weighing the patient, the patient has an empty bladder, no shoes and wearing an exam gown if possible. The entire team should agree on coming up with a contract setting. The contract settings include an exercise log, keeping a food diary and agreeing to adhere to it. A rule should be set that if the patient fails to keep up, then more intensive treatment should be added. A record of purges should also be included in the contract setting rules. The nutritionist should be the one to review the food diary and determine whether to review the nutritional adequacy or not. There are signs that the primary care physician should look for to see if there is a need for the hospitalization of the patient. These signs include inadequate cerebral perfusion, lack or response to being an outpatient and rapid progression loss or gain of weight (American Psychiatric Association, 1993). The other type of eating disorder is bulimia nervosa. In a primary care setting for detecting bulimia nervosa, one of the main questions that should be asked include if the patient is satisfied with their eating habits and does the patient ever eat in secret (Freund et al 1993)As a part of the routine health maintenance assessments, this questions should be included in the initial history forms. According to Morgan Reid and Lacey (1993), if the following questions are administered in the history forms, then detecting either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa can be made easy. Among the questions that the patient should be asked include does the patient make themselves sick because they feel that they are uncomfortably full, does the patient has anything to worry about losing control over how much they eat, does the patient see themselves as fat while other people refer them to as being thin and if they are asked about what dominates their life, would they give food as a priority? Previous weight loss and gain should also be a factor to look at. Other factors to look out for also include menstrual history, use of drugs or alcohol and exercise habits. Sexual abuse or assault, depression and rape are also questions that should try to be answered. It is very hard to detect a person suffering from bulimia nervosa during physical examinations due to the fact that they usually look healthy. Teeth enamel erosion due to vomiting and Russell’s sign are among the factors that should be looked for during the physical examination. The laboratory evaluation of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the same. If the following signs are detected, the physician should work on managing and treating the complications which are usually cause by the eating disorder. If a patient posses the signs of being a bulimic, then treatment should follow next. Like in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, then setting an achievable goal is very important. The goal should focus on eliminating purge behaviors, all the eating patterns getting back to normal and normal menses. Agreement between all the team players on what to do to end the disease and constant monitoring and evaluation should occur. In deciding whether a patient suffering from bulimia should be hospitalized, the following signs need to be looked at. The signs include the patient displaying characteristics of being suicidal or depressed, marked electrolyte imbalances or significant substance abuse. If a patient is bulimic and follows all the steps, then it is likely that they will be cured from their disease. Quality of the evaluation The evaluation has been well done. Firstly, a disease cannot be cured if it is not detected to be there. Clear explanations on the signs to look for in anorexia nervosa have been clearly highlighted. The signs have been sub divided in to physical, laboratory and trends that are common for people suffering from anorexia nervosa. This has paved a clear path in the interpretation of the results. If the patient suffers for most of the complications and signs that a person suffering from anorexia nervosa possesses, then the person should be diagnosed of anorexia nervosa. The evaluation of determining a patient with bulimia nervosa has also met the standards. Literatures supporting the signs of bulimia nervosa have also been given. It can also be noted that a person suffering from bulimia nervosa can also be considered as healthy. This is a good basis of the interpretation of the results. A person suffering from bulimia nervosa should not be confused as a healthy person. Factors that a person suffering from bulimia nervosa might possess have also been well expounded on. The main points to watch out for have also been well illustrated. This also gives us of an insight of how the results should be interpreted. If the patient displays majority of the signs, then the patient is suffering from bulimia nervosa and should be diagnosed of it. The quality of the treatment process for both persons suffering from bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa that has been administered is of high quality. Unless the patient is not willing to be treated, chances that the treatment is likely to work are very high. If the instructions given and the management team involved in helping the patient acts accordingly, then the evaluation given is of very high standards and likely to work. Implications of the results for theoretical development The results that are likely to be displayed by the patient should actually be used for theoretical development. Chances are that the treatment of patients suffering from any eating disorder will be administered effectively. If the patient and the management team assigned to treat the patient work hand in hand, then the treatment is likely to be successful. The results that are likely to be displayed do not show any room for the author to increase their study. In actual sense, the results displayed should actually be used for treatment of people suffering from both anorexia and bulimia nervosa eating disorder. Implications of the findings for further research and professional practice The findings given do not give any room for further implications. If the patient wants to extend their knowledge more on eating disorders, then they can do so. On the contrary, the findings can actually be used in a professional practice since they have proved to be reliable. Summary and Conclusion The basis of the findings of this article is done through English literature review. A lot of findings prove that the theoretical basis of this book is true. The two common types of eating disorder are Bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. In treatment and overcoming of anorexia nervosa, one of the key factors is to determine whether the patient is suffering from anorexia nervosa or not. The primary care physician who is involved must be very attentive and watch out for certain traits or characteristics especially in young women. After a person is diagnosed of any type of eating disorder, then the nutritionist, primary care physician and a mental health profession should be included in treating the patient. The three of them should be in a position to communicate and refer in a regular basis. The work that the primary care physician will be undertaking will include coordinating the treatment process, managing any medical complications and aiding in the determination of the patient being admitted. If the patient is not in a position to see a nutritionist or mental health profession, then the work of the primary care physician is to use a contract setting in regards to weight and food intake so that they can assist the patient in seeing why the treatment is useful for them. Chances are that the treatment of patients suffering from any eating disorder will be administered effectively. References American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4. (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. American Psychiatric Association. (1993). Practice Guidelines for Eating Disorders. Am J Psychiatry. 150:2–28. Birmingham, CL, Goldner EM, Bakan R. (1994) Controlled trial of zinc supplementation in anorexia nervosa. Int J Eating Disord. 15:251–5. Bulimia Anorexia (2011). Turning off the obsession genes that cause eating disorders. Bulimia Anorexia. 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