Question 1

What cutoff in DSM-IV-TR separates normal weights from those that suggest the presence of anorexia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

According to DSM-IV-TR criteria, a person with anorexia nervosa has a body weight that is less than 85% of what is considered normal for their height and age.

Question 2

Which of the following is a criterion for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a criterion...

Question 3

What is the primary feature of anorexia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

Anorexia nervosa is primarily characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with losing weight, often leading to severe caloric restriction or even avoidance of food altogether. This can also be accompanied by distorted body image and intense fear of gaining weight. While self-induced vomiting and repeated episodes of binge eating are features of other eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, they are not primary features of anorexia nervosa. Eating non-nutrient substances is a symptom of pica, which is a separate disorder.

Question 4

Refusal to maintain even a minimally normal body weight is the central characteristic of

Accepted Answer

Refusal to maintain even a minimally normal body weight is the central characteristic of anorexia nervosa.

Question 5

How is the reduced appetite observed in anorexia nervosa different from the reduced appetite seen in some forms of depression?

Accepted Answer

In depression, the reduced appetite is often due to a genuine loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, including eating, which is a core symptom of depression. In contrast, individuals with anorexia nervosa may intentionally restrict their food intake due to a fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, rather than a true lack of appetite.

Question 6

Anorexia nervosa can lead to cardiac arrest due to low levels of

Accepted Answer

Anorexia nervosa often leads to low levels of potassium, which can disrupt the normal functioning of the heart and potentially lead to cardiac arrest. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, but not necessarily cardiac arrest. Glucose levels may also be low in anorexia, but this is not typically a direct cause of cardiac arrest. White blood cell levels may be affected by anorexia, but this is also not typically a direct cause of cardiac arrest.

Question 7

What are the two ages of highest risk for anorexia nervosa among females?

Accepted Answer

The two ages of highest risk for anorexia nervosa among females are ages 14 and 18. Research suggests that puberty and the transition into young adulthood are significant risk factors for developing anorexia nervosa, as these are periods of significant physical and emotional changes for females. While onset can occur at any age, the highest incidence rates are seen in adolescence and young adulthood.

Question 8

Based on epidemiological research, which of the following individuals has the highest risk for anorexia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that female adolescents involved in athletic activities, particularly those that emphasize thinness or require weight classification (such as dance, gymnastics, and modeling), have a higher risk of developing anorexia nervosa. Therefore, Helen, a 16-year-old Caucasian high school athlete, has the highest risk for anorexia nervosa out of the given options.

Question 9

A public relations company is asked to develop a public service announcement to spread the word on the mental health center's treatments for anorexia nervosa. The center suspects that their services are underutilized by victims of anorexia. Which of the following might the company want to include in the public service announcements?

Accepted Answer

The announcement should highlight the seriousness of anorexia nervosa, such as its potential to lead to death, to emphasize the importance of seeking treatment.

Question 10

Which strategy for keeping a low body weight is usually used by men with anorexia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

Men with anorexia nervosa often use excessive exercise as a strategy to keep their weight low. They may also restrict their food intake or use other purging behaviors such as vomiting or laxatives, but exercise is often the primary method used by males with anorexia.

Question 11

Which treatment is associated with the most successful weight gain in patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

Family therapy has been shown to be the most effective treatment for weight gain in patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. It involves not only the individual with anorexia but their family members as well, with the goal of improving communication and resolving any family conflicts that may be contributing to the disorder. This approach has been found to be more successful in achieving weight gain and maintaining it long-term compared to client-centered therapy, antipsychotic medication, or systematic desensitization.

Question 12

Darla is suffering from anorexia nervosa and currently weighs 70% of the weight that is average for her age and height. What treatment would be recommended in this case?

Accepted Answer

Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that can be life-threatening. Inpatient hospital treatment is the best option in this case, as it provides intensive medical and psychological support to ensure the patient's safety and well-being. This includes nutritional counseling, weight restoration, therapy, and possibly medications for co-occurring mental health conditions. Family therapy may also be helpful in the overall treatment plan, but it alone is not sufficient for the severity of anorexia nervosa. Antipsychotic medications and electroconvulsive therapy are not typically recommended for anorexia nervosa.

Question 13

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by

Accepted Answer

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by purging, such as self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas. It is not characterized by below-average body weight, eating non-nutrient materials, or extreme control over daily caloric intake.

Question 14

During an episode of binge eating, a person with bulimia nervosa typically consumes large quantities of

Accepted Answer

During a binge episode, a person with bulimia nervosa typically consumes large amounts of high calorie foods. This is a key feature of the disorder, as the bingeing behavior is often accompanied by feelings of loss of control and guilt.

Question 15

Jane is making her annual visit to the dentist. As the dentist checks her mouth, he notices some changes that concern him. Based on his observations he suspects Jane may suffer from bulimia nervosa. What did the dentist see during the examination that led him to suspect this diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Loss of enamel on the teeth is a common symptom of bulimia nervosa, as frequent vomiting can erode the protective enamel layer of the teeth. Gaps between teeth, teeth growing at awkward angles, and open sores at the base of the teeth may be indicators of other dental problems, but they are not necessarily specific to bulimia nervosa.

Question 16

Which of these combined treatments seems to be the most effective in treating cases of bulimia nervosa?

Accepted Answer

Antidepressant medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy have been found to be the most effective in treating cases of bulimia nervosa. Antidepressant medication helps to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety that often co-occur with the disorder, while cognitive-behavioral therapy helps individuals to learn new coping skills and address unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors associated with their eating disorder.

Question 17

Approximately how much of the sleep of an adult is spent in stage 2 sleep?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 50% of adult sleep is spent in stage 2 sleep, which is a period of light sleep before entering deeper sleep stages.

Question 18

An EEG technician is watching the record of the brain waves of a sleeping patient and notices that this person is producing primarily delta waves. What stage of sleep is this person in at this time?

Accepted Answer

Delta waves are characteristic of stage 4 (also known as slow-wave or deep) sleep, which is the stage associated with the deepest level of sleep and where it is most difficult to wake a person.

Question 19

A volunteer is hooked up and observed in a sleep laboratory. The technician is giving a tour of the facility to a group of students and points out one volunteer whose breathing has become more rapid, irregular, and shallow. In addition his limbs have become paralyzed and his eyes jerk rapidly in various directions. What stage of sleep is this volunteer in at the moment?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described indicate that the volunteer is in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is associated with irregular breathing, muscle paralysis, and rapid eye movements. Stage 1, 2, and 4 of sleep do not typically involve these characteristics.

Question 20

A neurologist and an endocrinologist are working together on a very difficult case. They have found that among other problems, the patient has difficulty with his melatonin levels. Which of the following is most likely to be impacted by this difficulty?

Accepted Answer

Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep, so difficulty with melatonin levels would most likely impact the patient's ability to sleep.

Quiz 6: Bodily Maladaptions: Eating, Sleeping, and Psychophysiological Disorders