Anorexia Nervosa

Medical and Health > Eating Disorders
Psychology > Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

This paper discusses anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder, which has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.

1,025 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that eating disorders affect people in all walks of life, including young boys, men, and women, but girls between the ages of 11 and 17 are at greatest risk. The cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown; victims want everything in their lives to be perfect, and they blame themselves if it is not. The paper states that treatment for anorexia nervosa is very difficult because the patients do not feel there is anything wrong with them. However, if the illness is diagnosed early, and the patient is willing to make a change, it can be reversed.

From the Paper:

"The medical complications associated with this illness are enormous and too numerous to list is this paper. People who die as a result of anorexia die from cardiac arrest or suicide. The mortality rate is about 5% for each decade and increases up to 20% for patients that have the illness for more than 20 years. Patients with anorexia may have dry skin and thinning hair on their head. They usually have a tendency to feel cold and are frequently ill. Girls usually stop having menstrual periods."