Nursing Care Plans for Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder of complex and life-threatening proportions. It is an illness of starvation that is brought on by a severe disturbance of body image and a morbid fear of obesity.

Causes for Anorexia Nervosa

Complications for Anorexia Nervosa
Serious medical complications can result from the

Malnutrition,
Dehydration,
Electrolyte imbalances

It’s caused by prolonged starvation, vomiting, or laxative abuse:

For example, malnutrition may cause hypoalbuminemia and subsequent edema or hypokalemia, leading to ventricular arrhythmias and renal failure.
Poor nutrition and dehydration, coupled with laxative abuse, produce changes in the bowel similar to those in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Frequent vomiting can cause esophageal erosion, ulcers, tears, and bleeding as well as tooth and gum erosion and dental caries.
Cardiovascular complications can be life-threatening and include decreased left ventricular muscle mass, chamber size, and myocardial oxygen uptake, reduced cardiac output, hypotension, bradycardia, electrocardiographic changes, heart failure, and sudden death, possibly caused by ventricular arrhythmias.
Amenorrhea may occur when the patient loses about 25% of her normal body weight. It usually is associated with anemia.
Possible complications of prolonged amenorrhea include estrogen deficiency and increasing the risk of calcium deficiency and osteoporosis
Infertility.

Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

A team approach to care ”combining medical management, nutritional counseling, and individual, group, or family psychotherapy or behavior modification therapy” is the best approach. Treatment is difficult, and results may be discouraging. Many clinical centers are now developing inpatient and outpatient programs specifically for managing eating disorders.

Treatment may include: