When mental health professionals refer to “co-morbid conditions,” these are physical as well as emotional conditions that cause harm as well as distress to someone suffering from a “primary” diagnosis. For Instance, people with diabetes (primary disorder) often suffer from other conditions that are caused by diabetes (co-morbid disorders) such as peripheral neuropathy - loss of blood flow to the feet causing pain, loss of function, and may even lead to amputation.
Eating disorders like Bulimia Nervosa rarely present without co-morbid physical and emotional conditions. When co-morbid conditions do exist, they too must be treated along with the patient’s bulimia, the primary diagnosis. Successful treatment of Bulimia Nervosa depends upon the simultaneous treatment of co-morbid disorders. It’s really not important to debate whether bulimia created the co-morbid disorders, or vice-versa since both conditions must be treated for recovery to be successful. Looking at this web site which Morbid Obesity will educate you further.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Version Four, Text Revised (DSM-IV-TR) describes the following physical and emotional disorders that are oftentimes co-morbid with Bulimia Nervosa: Most bulimics are not medically obese, but are of a normal weight or perhaps underweight. Through purging their food through self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, and the misuse of laxatives, diuretics and enemas, they avoid weight gain.
Symptoms of depression as well as/or anxiety are frequently co-morbid with bulimia. Patients exhibit anhedonia (loss of pleasurable feelings), insomnia, inability to focus as well as concentrate, as well as thoughts of suicide - all symptoms of depression. Patients may also exhibit deep feelings of anxiety as well as fear in social situations, feelings of overwhelming stress, as well as very poor self-esteem - all symptoms of anxiety.
Substance abuse is often co-morbid with bulimia, abuse of stimulant drugs in particular. misuse of amphetamine drugs allow the bulimic to exercise rapidly and help control appetite. Common binging and purging results in fluid and electrolyte abnormalities a potentially fatal condition if not immediately treated with IV fluids. A major complication of self-induced vomiting is the depletion of tooth enamel, resulting in serious dental problems. This is caused by the stomach acids wearing away tooth enamel. A bulimic’s salivary glands may be enlarged, causing dental scaring. Many bulimics require extensive dental procedures, including dentures.
For the female bulimic, the menstrual cycle can stop entirely. Malnutrition causes the body to halt certain functions that it might not consider vital to survival. In some cases, menstrual cycle irregularities are common, as well as the menstrual cycle disappearing. Rare, but potentially fatal co-morbid conditions include death by esophageal rupture, gastric rupture, heart attack, as well as rectal prolapse due to laxative abuse.
For untreated sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa, lifespan can be decreased by at least ten years. Sooner or later, malnutrition, suicide or other complications of the illness overtake the untreated bulimic. Death is unavoidable, an imminent unless the individual manages to find treatment.
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