Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that can become fatal. It is characterized by a preoccupation with food to the point of starvation, weight loss, and a disturbance in a person’s body image. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V) lists diagnostic criteria as the following: “restriction of energy intake relative to requirement, leading to a significantly low body weight”; “intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain”; and “disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced” (Sheppard Pratt Health System, 2015).
Anorexia has many etiologies, including but not limited to: heredity, as evidenced …show more content…
348). The initial treatment for a patient with anorexia nervosa should be centered on imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements (Halter & Varcarolis, 2014, p. 347). Interventions for this diagnosis are focused on restoring nutritional balance. Some nursing interventions are: feeding, nutrition management, nutrition therapy, and weight gain assistance (Ackley & Ladwig, 2014, p. 559). Patient education focuses on making changes that improve nutrition. Teaching should include identifying contributing factors of the disorder and understanding psychological and physical effects of the disorder. For example, using a cognitive-behavioral approach to identify and confront the patient’s thoughts and beliefs will lead to a change in the patient’s eating behaviors (Halter & Varcarolis, 2014, p. …show more content…
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