Term paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Term Paper Example 1165). Aside from suicide, starvation-related effects such as heart failure, organ failure, and malnutrition also contribute to the high mortality rate of anorexia nervosa. Patients with anorexia are excessively preoccupied with weight, food, and body shape. As much as they would like to eat, patients feel guilty because of a distorted body image or perception that one is distressingly large despite obvious thinness. When the goal of losing of weight is not met, patients with anorexia nervosa lose their desire to live and thrive, fall into depression, and eventually commit suicide or die from starvation-related complications. In the case study, the teenager posed the highest risk for depression as she became "almost obsessive" in her physical activity, taking part in paddling, track, tennis and aerobic exercises at home. There are also signs of cardiac alteration, as manifested in abnormally low heart rate of 44 beats per minute, and malnutrition since the teenager has lost 9 kg (20 lbs.) for approximately a year, height at 50th percentile weight is now at the 10th percentile for her age, obvious thinness, and lack of menstrual periods. 2. What is the most likely electrolyte abnormally in patients with bulimia nervosa who engage in self-induced vomiting? Patients with bulimia nervosa who engage in purging behavior (self-induced vomiting) are likely to have abnormally low level of potassium electrolyte in the blood, a condition called hypokalemia. Potassium is lost during episodes of purging as vomiting of gastric fluid occurs. In addition, the metabolic imbalance termed â€Å"hypochloremic alkalosis† greatly contributes in occurrence of hypokalemia in patients with bulimia nervosa as potassium ions shift into the cells to help neutralize metabolic alkalosis and high pH (Day, Paul & Williams, 2009, p. 313). In short, alkalosis can cause hypokalemia and vice versa. In the case study, there has been no evidence of any binging or purging behaviors and any la boratory result that would confirm hypokalemia. However, health care provider must address hypokalemia promptly as the electrolyte potassium is essential for skeletal and cardiac function. 3. Name three indications for medical hospitalization of a patient with an eating disorder. As stated earlier, patients with eating disorder are likely to die from suicide and starvation-related effects. Thus, early medical hospitalization and treatment is necessary. Goroll and Mulley (2009) enumerate the medical criteria for hospitalization of a patient with an eating disorder, among of which include: more than 40% weight loss of premorbid or ideal body weight in three months, rapid progression of weight loss, presence of cardiac arrhythmias, and persistent hypokalemia (p. 1512). In the case study, weight loss of 9 kg (20 lbs.) since last year and cardiac abnormalities manifested by a heart rate of 44 beats per minute warrant medical attention to prevent further complications and correct physical and psychological abnormalities. 4. A teenaged female reports feeling healthy, denies feeling fat, and has normal menstrual periods. However, she has evidenced a 20 lb. weight loss. What is the most likely diagnosis? Anorexia nervosa is the most likely diagnosis of a teenaged female, who reports feeling healthy, denies feeling fat, and has normal menstrual periods but has evidenced a 20 lb. weight loss. In making differential diagnosis for mental and eating disorders, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 10 and the