Monday, January 19, 2009

Typical Coinciding Disorders That Exist Along Side Of Anorexia Nervosa

Hardly any medical or mental health conditions exist as "stand-alone" illnesses.  For Instance, a person that has been diagnosed with Major Depression is also in all likelihood to have a simultaneous sleep disorder since one of the symptoms of depression is insomnia or hyposomnia (sleeping too much).  Many times, it is challenging for a professional in the field of mental health to determine which the primary disorders are and which are the collateral disorders that are created by the primary disorder.  It is often a "chicken or the egg" dilemma.  In Any Event, all health conditions are usually addressed at the same time.

Mental health disorders that occur at the same time with another primary disorder are called "co-morbid" disorders; "morbid" standing for sick, or ill.  It is quite commonplace, for example, to diagnose a patient with Alcohol Dependence (original diagnosis) and a co-morbid health condition of Dysthymia, a more modest form of chronic depression.  Both conditions are addressed together; improvement in one condition means getting better in the other condition. Check out this web site Obesity And Infertility which will provide you with a lot more instructive selective information.

Looking specifically at Anorexia Nervosa as a underlying health condition, let us take a look at co-morbid mental health conditions frequently accompany this eating disorder:

Major Depressive Disorder as manifested by depressed mood, social detachment, irritability, insomnia as well as disinterest in sex. 

Obsessive-Compulsive characteristics. Obsessive thoughts of food are what pre-occupy an Anorexic's mind.  An Anorexic will often stash foods that have little to no nutritional value, for instance plain lettuce, celery, or saltine crackers. Anorexics are constantly scrutinizing their supplies, maintaining a close eye on the amount of items they allow themselves to consume, while compulsively checking to be certain that spare food supply is still where they originally left it.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder.  With this disorder, the patient has an steadfast notion that his/her body is unthinkably atrocious despite hearing the truth in regards to their overall appearance from others.  Anorexics are convinced that their abdomen, buttocks and thighs are fat and unattractive, even though these parts of their anatomy might actually be excruciatingly skeletal in appearance.  The term "flat butt" used by mental health professionals who treat eating disorders suggest a patient's completely flat buttocks, a sign of severe malnutrition.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Anorexics tend to abuse prohibited stimulant drugs to avoid feeling hungry and to sustain a simulated level of energy.  Alcohol is abused for similar reasons; anorexics that drink in excess develop alcohol gastritis, an stabbing stomach pain that prevents them from eating. 

Borderline Personality Disorder.  A personality disorder is a mental health condition that stems from the underlying character, or personality, of the patient.  They reverberate the patient's view of the world and their position in it.  Personality disorders are lasting conditions although their symptoms can be effectively managed.  The Borderline Personality Disorder's substantive features are a life invariably in pandemonium as well as turmoil, history of attempts at suicide, sporadic and spontaneous mood, lack of honest-to-goodness personal relationships, and a endless need for "drama" contained in their lives.  Anorexics with BPD make frequent suicide attempts, have very volatile personal relationships, and their disorganised conduct may try the patience of everybody who acknowledges them.  A commingled primary disorder like Anorexia Nervosa and a co-morbid personality disorder are referred to as "double trouble" within the community of mental health professionals.

By studying this list of co-morbid disorders, which is not inevitably exclusive, it is easy to see how really challenging it is to treat a patient with potentially deadly Anorexia Nervosa plus a intimidating co-morbid disorder.  A mental health practitioner with little or no experience in treating eating disorders should not try such treatment.

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