Feeding And Eating Disorders Ap Psychology Definition

Delving into the realm of mental health, feeding and eating disorders represent a complex interplay of psychological, behavioral, and emotional factors. As a significant area of study within AP Psychology, understanding these disorders requires a comprehensive grasp of their definitions, diagnostic criteria, underlying causes, and potential treatments. This article will provide an in-depth exploration of feeding and eating disorders, aligning with the curriculum of AP Psychology and offering insights that extend beyond textbook definitions.

Understanding Feeding and Eating Disorders: An Introduction

Feeding and eating disorders are characterized by persistent disturbances of eating or eating-related behavior that result in altered consumption or absorption of food and that significantly impair physical health or psychosocial functioning. These disorders are not merely about food; they often serve as a coping mechanism for underlying emotional distress, anxiety, or a distorted self-perception. They can affect individuals of all ages, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ethnicities, although they are more commonly observed in adolescents and young adults.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), provides the diagnostic criteria used by mental health professionals to identify specific feeding and eating disorders. These criteria are essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.

Types of Feeding and Eating Disorders: A Detailed Overview

The DSM-5 outlines several distinct feeding and eating disorders, each with its unique set of diagnostic criteria:

1. Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by persistent restriction of energy intake relative to requirements, leading to significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health. Individuals with anorexia nervosa have an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though they are underweight. They also exhibit disturbance in the way in which their body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

Key Features of Anorexia Nervosa:

• Restriction of Energy Intake: Severely limiting food intake, often through dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• Fear of Weight Gain: An overwhelming fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, which does not diminish even when underweight.
• Distorted Body Image: A distorted perception of body weight and shape, often feeling overweight even when severely underweight.
• Types of Anorexia Nervosa:
  • Restricting Type: Weight loss is primarily achieved through dieting, fasting, and/or excessive exercise.
  • Binge-Eating/Purging Type: The individual engages in recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging behavior (e.g., self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas).

Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa:

Anorexia nervosa can have severe and life-threatening health consequences, including:

• Cardiovascular Problems: Bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension (low blood pressure), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and heart failure.
• Endocrine Problems: Amenorrhea (loss of menstruation) in females, decreased testosterone levels in males, and thyroid abnormalities.
• Gastrointestinal Problems: Constipation, abdominal pain, and delayed gastric emptying.
• Bone Density Loss: Osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones), increasing the risk of fractures.
• Neurological Problems: Seizures, cognitive impairment, and peripheral neuropathy.
• Electrolyte Imbalances: Potassium, sodium, and chloride imbalances, which can lead to cardiac arrest.

2. Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. These behaviors may include self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise. The binge eating and compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least once a week for three months. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

Key Features of Bulimia Nervosa:

• Binge Eating: Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
• Compensatory Behaviors: Engaging in inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• Frequency and Duration: The binge eating and compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least once a week for three months.
• Self-Evaluation: Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

Health Consequences of Bulimia Nervosa:

Bulimia nervosa can lead to a range of physical and psychological health problems:

• Electrolyte Imbalances: Potassium, sodium, and chloride imbalances due to vomiting and laxative abuse, which can lead to cardiac arrest.
• Gastrointestinal Problems: Esophageal tears, stomach rupture, and chronic constipation.
• Dental Problems: Erosion of tooth enamel due to frequent vomiting, leading to cavities and tooth sensitivity.
• Cardiovascular Problems: Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and heart failure.
• Psychological Problems: Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

3. Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating, similar to bulimia nervosa, but without the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors. The individual experiences a sense of lack of control over eating during the binge-eating episode and marked distress regarding their binge eating. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for three months.

Key Features of Binge-Eating Disorder:

• Binge Eating: Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
• Distress: Marked distress regarding binge eating.
• Frequency and Duration: The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for three months.
• Absence of Compensatory Behaviors: The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors as in bulimia nervosa.

Health Consequences of Binge-Eating Disorder:

Binge-eating disorder can lead to several health problems associated with obesity:

• Weight Gain: Significant weight gain, often leading to obesity.
• Cardiovascular Problems: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Gastrointestinal Problems: Gallbladder disease and heartburn.
• Psychological Problems: Depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

4. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is characterized by a disturbance in eating or feeding as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs associated with one (or more) of the following:

• Significant weight loss (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children).
• Significant nutritional deficiency.
• Dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements.
• Marked interference with psychosocial functioning.

The disturbance is not better explained by lack of available food or by an associated culturally sanctioned practice. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and there is no evidence of a disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced. The eating disturbance is not attributable to a concurrent medical condition or not better explained by another mental disorder. When the eating disturbance occurs in the context of another condition or disorder, the severity of the eating disturbance exceeds that routinely associated with the condition or disorder and warrants additional clinical attention.

Key Features of ARFID:

• Restriction of Food Intake: Limiting the amount or types of food consumed.
• Lack of Interest in Eating: Showing little interest in eating or food.
• Avoidance Based on Sensory Characteristics: Avoiding food based on its sensory characteristics (e.g., texture, taste, smell).
• Concern About Aversive Consequences: Concern about aversive consequences of eating, such as choking or vomiting.
• No Distorted Body Image: Unlike anorexia nervosa, individuals with ARFID do not have a distorted body image or fear of weight gain.

Health Consequences of ARFID:

ARFID can lead to significant nutritional deficiencies and medical complications:

• Nutritional Deficiencies: Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, leading to various health problems.
• Weight Loss: Significant weight loss or failure to gain weight as expected.
• Growth Retardation: Impaired growth and development in children and adolescents.
• Psychosocial Impairment: Difficulties in social situations and relationships due to eating-related anxieties.

5. Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) is a category used for individuals who have symptoms of an eating disorder but do not meet the full criteria for any of the specific disorders listed above. This category allows for the diagnosis of clinically significant eating disorders that do not fit neatly into the other categories.

Examples of OSFED:

• Atypical Anorexia Nervosa: All of the criteria for anorexia nervosa are met, except that the individual's weight is within or above the normal range.
• Bulimia Nervosa (of low frequency and/or limited duration): All of the criteria for bulimia nervosa are met, except that the binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors occur at a lower frequency and/or for less than three months.
• Binge-Eating Disorder (of low frequency and/or limited duration): All of the criteria for binge-eating disorder are met, except that the binge eating occurs at a lower frequency and/or for less than three months.
• Purging Disorder: Recurrent purging behavior to influence weight or shape in the absence of binge eating.
• Night Eating Syndrome: Recurrent episodes of night eating, as manifested by eating after awakening from sleep or by excessive food consumption after the evening meal.

6. Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder (UFED)

Unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED) is a category used for presentations of feeding or eating disorders that cause clinically significant distress or impairment but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the feeding and eating disorders diagnostic class. The clinician chooses not to specify the reason that the criteria are not met for a specific disorder (e.g., insufficient information is available).

Etiology of Feeding and Eating Disorders: Unraveling the Causes

The etiology of feeding and eating disorders is complex and multifaceted, involving a combination of genetic, psychological, environmental, and sociocultural factors.

1. Genetic Factors

• Heritability: Twin and family studies have shown that eating disorders have a significant genetic component. Individuals with a family history of eating disorders are at a higher risk of developing one themselves.
• Specific Genes: Research has identified several genes that may be associated with an increased risk of eating disorders. These genes are involved in regulating appetite, metabolism, and mood.

2. Psychological Factors

• Personality Traits: Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, impulsivity, and neuroticism, are associated with an increased risk of eating disorders.
• Emotional Regulation: Difficulty regulating emotions, such as anxiety, depression, and anger, can contribute to the development of eating disorders. Food may be used as a way to cope with these emotions.
• Body Image Disturbance: A negative body image and dissatisfaction with one's appearance are significant risk factors for eating disorders.
• Low Self-Esteem: Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness can contribute to the development of eating disorders.

3. Environmental Factors

• Family Environment: Dysfunctional family dynamics, such as high levels of conflict, criticism, and control, can increase the risk of eating disorders.
• Trauma: Traumatic experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can also contribute to the development of eating disorders.
• Peer Influence: Peer pressure and social comparison can influence body image and eating behaviors.

4. Sociocultural Factors

• Media Influence: The media often portrays unrealistic and idealized images of beauty, which can contribute to body dissatisfaction and the desire to achieve an unattainable body shape.
• Cultural Norms: Cultural norms that emphasize thinness and dieting can also increase the risk of eating disorders.
• Social Media: The use of social media platforms can expose individuals to images and messages that promote unrealistic body standards and dieting behaviors.

Treatment of Feeding and Eating Disorders: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Treatment for feeding and eating disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, including medical, psychological, and nutritional interventions.

1. Medical Treatment

• Medical Monitoring: Regular medical check-ups to monitor vital signs, electrolyte levels, and other physical health parameters.
• Nutritional Rehabilitation: Restoring healthy eating patterns and achieving a healthy weight.
• Medication: Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and other medications may be prescribed to treat co-occurring mental health conditions.

2. Psychological Treatment

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors related to eating, body image, and self-esteem.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT helps individuals regulate their emotions and develop coping skills.
• Family-Based Therapy (FBT): FBT involves the entire family in the treatment process and is particularly effective for adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: Psychodynamic therapy explores the underlying psychological issues that contribute to the development of eating disorders.

3. Nutritional Counseling

• Registered Dietitian: A registered dietitian provides education and guidance on healthy eating habits, meal planning, and nutritional needs.
• Meal Support: Providing support and encouragement during meals to help individuals overcome their fears and anxieties related to food.

Prevention of Feeding and Eating Disorders: Promoting Healthy Attitudes

Prevention efforts focus on promoting healthy body image, self-esteem, and eating behaviors.

• Education: Educating individuals about the dangers of dieting and the importance of healthy eating habits.
• Media Literacy: Teaching individuals how to critically evaluate media messages and resist the pressure to conform to unrealistic body standards.
• Promoting Body Positivity: Encouraging individuals to accept and appreciate their bodies, regardless of their shape or size.
• Building Self-Esteem: Helping individuals develop a strong sense of self-worth and confidence.

Conclusion

Feeding and eating disorders are complex and potentially life-threatening mental health conditions. Understanding their definitions, diagnostic criteria, underlying causes, and treatment options is crucial for effective prevention and intervention. By addressing the multifaceted factors that contribute to these disorders, we can promote healthy attitudes toward food, body image, and self-esteem, and help individuals lead fulfilling and healthy lives. For AP Psychology students, a thorough understanding of these disorders is essential for success on the exam and for gaining a deeper appreciation of the complexities of human behavior and mental health.