Question

Mrs. S, a 25-year-old female, married for 5 years, educated, currently a homemaker, living with husband's family, presented to a tertiary care center with complaints of gradual loss of weight, recurrent episodes of vomiting, from a period of 1 year, loss of menstrual periods since 6 months, with a probable precipitating factor being husband's critical comment about her weight. Upon examination patient was expressing low mood, easy fatigability, apathy, decreased attention and concentration. A series of investigations were conducted and found to be well within normal limits.

a-Interpret the symptoms mentioned in the above case to determine the actual diagnosis of the case and its effect on patient health.

b- Highlight the interpersonal and social factors affecting the disorder mentioned in the case.

c-Propose a treatment plan for the disorder mentioned in the above case.

d- Explain the benefits of using medications in this disorder.

e- From the data mentioned above, conclude whether the prognosis of the case is good or bad. Verify your answer.

f- There is a disorder which is completely opposite to the disorder mentioned in the case. Identify it explaining its health effects.

Answer 1

a- According to the symptoms of Mrs. S, she may be diganosed with Anorexia nervosa, a most well known eating disorder. It generally develops during adolesence or young adulthood and tends to affect more women than men. Anorexia can be very damaging to the body. Over time, she may experience the thinning of their bones, infertility, brittile hair and nails, and growth of a layer of fine hair all over their body. In severe cases, it can lead to heart, brain, or multi-organ failure and death.

b- She may view herself as overweight and tend to constantly monitor their weight, avoid eating certain types of foods and severely restrict their calories. She may also have difficulty eating in publis and exhibit a strong desire to control their environment, limiting their ability to be spontaneous. She may display impaired socail interractions and the decline in energy from lack of nutrition causes the person to focus on oneself to survive and thus external relationships decline in importance.

c- Individual Therapy--The main goal of the treatment is normalising eating patterns and behaviours to support weight gain. Then next goal is to change distorted beliefs and thoughts that maintain restrictive eating.

d- Antidepressants or other psychiatric medications can help treat mental health disorders such as depression. Calcium and vitamin D supplements can be given and are recommended to maintain a healthy diet.

e- The prognosis for Anorexia isbest when identification and treatment can be given in early stages so that full weight restoration is acheived. Its found that younger patients are thought to have the best prognosis.

f- The opposite of anorexia is Bigorexia, an anxiety disorder which causes someone to see themselves as small, despite being big and muscular. Individuals suffering from bigorexia develope eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, high blood pressure, can cause liver failure and heart attacks. Mostly men are more susceptible than woman. Continuous use os steroids may lead to side effects such as acne, impotence, baldness, breast enlargement and increased aggression.