1. Abnormal Behaviour Different ways of understanding abnormal behaviour (models of abnormality) –Biological –Psychodynamic –Behaviourist –Cognitive Eating disorders –Anorexia & bulimia nervosa –Biological & psychological explanations www.psychlotron.org.uk

2. Eating Disorders Symptoms & clinical description –How is a diagnosis made? Prevalence –How common are they? Risk factors –What makes it more likely that a person will get them? www.psychlotron.org.uk

3. Eating Disorders www.psychlotron.org.uk

4. Eating Disorders Symptoms of psychological disorders can be categorised into: –Cognitive (thinking) –Affective (emotion) –Behavioural –Physical www.psychlotron.org.uk

5. Anorexia Nervosa Main symptoms: –Severely restricted food intake –Weight loss (below 85% of expected) –Distortion of body image –Underplays seriousness of weight loss –Fear of becoming fat –Cessation of periods (3+ missed) www.psychlotron.org.uk

6. Anorexia Nervosa Prevalence –Affects 1 in 200 adolescents –90% of sufferers are female –Commonest in 15-17 year old girls (1%) Prognosis: –8% die within 5 years of onset –70% recover within 10 years –22% struggle with chronic symptoms www.psychlotron.org.uk

7. Anorexia Nervosa Risk factors –Hard working, high achieving –Compliant, high need for approval –High need for control, low tolerance of change –Perfectionist –Competitive environment –Occupation associated with low weight www.psychlotron.org.uk

8. Bulimia Nervosa Bingeing episodes –Consumption of large amounts of food –Feeling that eating is out of control Purging behaviour –Self-induced vomiting –Laxative abuse –Excessive exercise Weight typically in normal range, but sufferer unusually preoccupied with body weight/shape www.psychlotron.org.uk

9. Bulimia Nervosa Prevalence –Affects up to 3% of young women –Rare in men –Later onset than anorexia (late teens-20s) Prognosis –70% full or partially recover within 10 years –Average 5yrs between onset & treatment www.psychlotron.org.uk

10. Bulimia Nervosa Risk factors –Anxious & depressed –Poor impulse control –Alcohol & drug use –High susceptibility to stress www.psychlotron.org.uk

11. Health Risks Starvation, bingeing & purging can lead to: –Irregular heartbeat & cardiac arrest –Liver & kidney damage –Bone defects & osteoporosis –Damage to teeth & oesophagus –Infertility –Electrolyte imbalance (sometimes fatal) –Cognitive impairments www.psychlotron.org.uk