Eating disorders are characterised by one or more seriously disturbed eating behaviours such as food restriction or recurrent episodes of uncontrolled eating, and weight control behaviours including self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising or the misuse of laxatives or diuretics.
Anorexia nervosa is a complex, usually chronic, and potentially life threatening illness with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Bio psychosocial concerns include significant protein calorie malnutrition and associated medical complications, anxiety and depression, low self-esteem and isolation.
Eating-disordered patients are admitted to hospital when they require the care, safety and containment provided by 24 hour nursing care. Inpatient treatment is complex and nursing care is particularly challenging, due in large part to the resistance to treatment and non-compliant behaviours generally displayed by patients with anorexia nervosa.
Effective nursing management incorporates the ability to develop a therapeutic alliance with the client but against the disorder. A key aspect of promoting positive outcomes for anorexia nervosa inpatients lies in finding the right balance between understanding, validating and caring for the emotional needs of these patients while simultaneously enforcing behavioural modification programs, containing anxiety and facilitating the necessary nutritional rehabilitation.
This presentation will focus on the medical complications, inpatient treatment and nursing management of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa.