Eating Disorders (EDs) Anorexia Nervosa: Characteristics

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What are the 7 characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa?
Weight, Anxiety/Eating Behaviour, Body Perception, Major Physical Symptoms/Effects, Gender, Age and 'other' (death rate and other methods of weight loss)
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Explain weight as a characteristic of AN.
You are deemed anorexic if you're less than 85% below normal body weight and you refuse to maintain expected weight.
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Explain Anxiety/Eating Behaviour as a characteristic of AN.
Anxious about eating generally and your weight: severely restrict calorie intake.
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Explain Body Perception as a characteristic of AN.
Their body perception is distorted: see themselves as overweight when they are too thin.
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Explain the physical symptoms of AN.
Dry skin, dehydration, malnutrition, brittle bones&nails, thinning hair, amenorrhea and fine hair growth on body can all occur to anorexics.
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Explain how Gender can be a characteristic of AN.
Estimated 90-95% of anorexics are female and 5-10% are male.
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How can age be a characteristic of AN?
90% of severe cases of Anorexia Nervosa start between 13-18 years, but there are cases as young as 8 (Dana the 8 year old Anorexic).
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Describe the other characteristics of AN?
5-20% die due to starvation or suicide (highest mortality rate of any mental disorder). Compulsive&excessive exercise and the use of laxatives are also used to lose weight, not just starvation: v. secretive disorder.
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What case study can be used for anorexia?
'Miranda'- anorexic when she was 16, was pretty and not fat (except puppy fat), father told she was chubby: started dieting, didn't stop. Eventually periods stopped, obsessed: weighed all food, exercised all the time, 5ft9- less than 45kilo- hospital
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What 3 types of biological explanations are there?
Genetic (DNA inherited from biological parents), Neurological (brain biochemistry & brain structures) and Evolutionary (we've evolved the behaviour because it's somehow adaptive).
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Explain weight as a characteristic of AN.

Back

You are deemed anorexic if you're less than 85% below normal body weight and you refuse to maintain expected weight.

Card 3

Front

Explain Anxiety/Eating Behaviour as a characteristic of AN.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Explain Body Perception as a characteristic of AN.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Explain the physical symptoms of AN.

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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