Feeding and Eating Disorders - Research Paper Example

Feeding and eating disorders Contents 3 Introduction 4 Binge Eating Condition or Disorder 5 Anorexia Nervosa 5 Bulimia Nervosa 6 Night Eating Syndrome 6 Overall Changes 7 Conclusion 9 References 10 Abstract The paper will deal with Eating and feeding disordersthe behaviors and symptoms of patients under the conditions through the lifespan.Some of the utmost substantial changes are detection of the binge eating condition, inclusion of rumination, pica and avoidant food eating disorder, revisions of the diagnostic criteria of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. The paper will highlight three of the most common conditions that are first diagnosed during infancy, adolescence or childhood. Recently, researchers and clinicians have realized that a huge number of people with feeding disorders do not fit in the previous “Diagnostic and statistical manual 4” (DSM-4) categories of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. They were mainly diagnosed with disorders that were unspecified which in most cases was the binge eating disorder. Key words: clinicians, feeding, disorders Introduction The most controversial event in the field of psychiatry in 2013 was the publication of the 5th edition of DSM-5 meaning “Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders”. This comprises of an extensively revised segment on eating and feeding disorders. The 5 articles in the newly published eating disorder journal of the psychiatrists reviews a number of issues. The articlesfocus on the implications of epidemiology, classification, neurobiological and treatment changes evident in DSM criteria of eating and feeding disorders and the changes evident in the DSM criteria.It also defines the term EDNOS which refers to the eating and feeding disorder that causes huge impairment or distress, but it do not meet the criteria for other prerecorded feeding and eating disorders listed in the previous DSM-IV. Binge Eating Condition or Disorder The condition was accepted in the DSM-5 as a separate category of an eating disorder in 2013. In DSM-4, binge eating condition was not acknowledged as a disorder but instead was defined by Appendix B as criteria axes and sets and was still under investigation. The medical personnel treating it handled it as one of the unclassified eating disorders. The disorder can be referred to as recurring episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short duration of time more than what many people would have under the same circumstances. Wonderlich (2013) notes that the episodes are characterized by feelings of loss of self -control. People suffering from this condition develop a deep sense of loss of self-control as far as eating and feeding are concerned. An individual suffering from the binge eating disorder might eat very quickly even when they are not hungry. The person might have feelings of embarrassment, disgust or guilt and might binge eat alone so as to hide the deed. The condition is associated with specific distress and happens on rare occasions like once every three months. The change made was meant to increase the awareness on just how different binge eating disorder is from the phenomenon of just overeating. Treasure (2013) argues that overeating might be a problem for Americans, but binge is less common and more severe with psychological and physical problems accompanying the disorder. Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa mainly affects young women and adolescent girls and is characterized by excessive dieting and a distorted body shape that causes alarming weight loss due to the pathological fear that they will be fat. The criteria made several important changes concerning the Anorexia Nervosa. Criterion focuses on issues such as limiting calorie intake and does not recognize the term refusal when mentioning issues of weight maintenance. As this means intention on the patient’s side and can be hard to assess. The DSM-4 criterion that demands 3 menstrual cyclesand amenorrhea will soon be deleted. Research done by Bryant (2013) revealed that the criterion was not applicable to post-menopausal females, females on oral contraceptives, pre-monarchal females and males. At times however, patients exhibit the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa and also report menstrual activity. Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia nervosa is occasionally characterized by rampant incidents of binge eating that are later on followed by harmful behaviors like self–inflicted vomiting to prevent weight gain. DSM-5 criteria reduces the frequency of compensatory behaviors and binge eating that most people with bulimia nervosa exhibit either once a week or twice a week as specified in the DSM-4. People suffering from this condition have a negative attitude towards fat people; hence, they struggle to avoid all possible ways that can cause weight gain. Night Eating Syndrome The NES is a type of a feeding and eating disorder where individuals recurrently eat at night or eat immediately after waking up from sleep. This is associated with excessive intake of calorie especially after the evening meal. This behavior is not acceptable or cultural like the random night munchies. NES gives the ability to recall the meal and its period of consumption. This is also evident in a person’s sleeping and waking up cycle. The disorder causes impairment and distress in an individual’s functionality. The disorder is actually not clearly defined in the DSM-5 but research conducted indicates that its diagnosis is available (Treasure 2013). Doctors’ advice the patients to take only 25% of calorie in evening meals or change their sleeping and waking schedule. Overall Changes The work group that deals with eating disorders meant for DSM-5 varies in order to minimize the chances of using catch -all diagnoses of the rest of the specified eating and feeding disorders and the unspecified eating and feeding disorders. It is advisable for people suffering from eating disorders to a conduct a diagnosis which accurately describes their behaviors and symptoms. Wonderlich (2013) asserts that getting an accurate diagnosis is the first vital step for patients and clinicians in determining a treatment plan. The DSM emphasizes a lot on the influence culture, sex and development has on psychiatric disorders. The issue has been given a lot of attention unlike previous DSM versions and whenever possible it strives to adhere to lifespan approaches. The first drawback of the lifespan approach is the removal of the previous DSM-4 chapter “Disorders Usually First Diagnosed during Infancy, Adolescence or Childhood”. When the chapter was removed two separate categories namely “eating disorders” and “feeding disorders” from the previous DSM-4 were integrated into a single unit known as the “Feeding and Eating Disorders” in the current DSM-5. According to Treasure(2013),in order to come up with a single comprehensive category from the two diverse categories the previous diagnoses was only for children but was revised and rearticulated to suite and handle both children and adults. Studies conducted by researchers indicate that many people suffering from eating disorders do not receive any form of treatment. This is because the diseases are either not discovered or the patients refuse the treatment because of denial or shame oftheir condition. Thoughthere is no single specialized treatment superior enough to handle anorexia nervosa in adults, many patients gradually heal with specialized psychological treatments. A family centered therapy is currently the ultimate treatment for the many youths suffering from anorexia nervosa. Suddenly, the numbersof articles out there that deal with eating and feeding disorders affecting children are still inadequate (Bryant, 2013). Manypsychiatrics are hopeful that the new DSM-5 will capture the neglected field of childhood eating disorders. Many critics involved ineither developing or reviewing the DSM-5 consider the brand new version of DSM system as the best description of mental disorders available in the medical field. Just like any other complex revision process the unique DSM-5 together with the eating disorder criteria has also been criticized. The chairperson of the DSM-4, Allen Frances insists that the DSM-5 increased the risks of defining the various variants of ordinary behavior as mental conditions. An example of these is the BED disorder which in the earlier version of DSM was classified as just an appendix condition. Many scholars agree that this is an under estimation of the disabling nature and seriousness for most BED patients (Treasure, 2013). Research conducted in laboratories shows that the cognition and eating behavior of patients with BED is rather different from those weight matched patients without BED. Conclusion Development of advanced DSM-5 clearly reveals that the medical field is making significant advances towards improving the remedies of eating and feeding disorders. The fact that the new manual concentrates on adolescents and adults diagnosed with the disorder that were previously neglected makes it even more valuable. Although, there has been increased research and interest on feeding complications affecting children there is still a huge list of unanswered questions that need to be answered and further research has to be conducted. There is need to develop an intellectual behavioral treatment that can treat all sorts of eating disorders that attack adults, adolescents or children worldwide. One common issue about these feeding and eating disorders is that all these conditions cause serious physiological and emotional suffering. They also cause serious problems in schools, work and relationships. The doctors always warn that if an individual feels something is not right but his or her symptoms are not on the list they still need medical attention. If you are a bit concerned with your exercise and eating habits and your emotions or thoughts concerning body image, activity and food then doctors urge such people to consult ED experts. Though some people might think eating and feeding disorders are normal, to some the results might be dire and tragic if certified ED specialists do not intervene References Wonderlich, S. (2013).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders fifth edition (DSM5).Journal of the American Psychiatric Association. Bryant, R. (2013) .Feeding and eating disorders in children.New York: HarperCollins Publishers. Treasure, J. (2013).Advances in the neurobiology of eating disorders.Groningen: University of Groningen press. Read More