Emergency nurses may be seeing a lot of patients suffering from eating disorders — and not recognizing them. As many as half of all eating disorders go undetected in clinical settings, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. Many who have obsessive fear of weight gain may dangerously and secretively be limiting food intake or “purging” nutrients with laxatives, diuretics or induced vomiting; others may be eating in “binges” and then purging or fasting to compensate. Still others may be involved in less common behaviors, like those with type-1 diabetes who manipulate their insulin levels to achieve weight loss, or those who consume non-food substances, such as dirt or plastics in place of food.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, eating disorders have been shown to have a high correlation with substance abuse and depression. These disorders even can be the outcome of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Timothy Brewerton, MD of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, clinical professor of psychiatry. Stereotypes about eating disorders say those who suffer from it are typically adolescent or young adult females, but statistics show patients with eating disorders can range from 12 to 60 years of age, and some are men. Also, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recognizes the relationship between substance abuse and eating disorders, and equips addiction counselors with information on screening, referral and treatment modalities.
In each of this year’s Nurse.com specialty guides we’re focusing on preventive care and wellness, and one way to improve both is to recognize and reach out to this special patient population who literally may be crying out quietly for help.
In the cover story nurses who are involved in research and education on eating disorders discuss how and why these patients are being overlooked and what can be done to change that. Interviewees say patients with eating disorders will present in the ED for entirely different unrelated diagnoses, and because staff has only a limited amount of time with each patient, eating habits often are not addressed. Some patients say nothing about their eating disorder. Some report vague symptoms, while hiding the behaviors they know are causing the symptoms. Those who suffer from orthorexia — an extreme obsession with avoiding unhealthy foods — or bulimia may not look emaciated or thin; they can be of normal weight or even be overweight. This is where nurses can intervene, look beyond the obvious and do a thorough assessment. If the patient’s history makes you suspect an underlying eating disorder, nurses in the cover story suggest ED RNs address it with the patient. Also, they give advice on some specific care interventions from immediate treatment in the ED, to acute hospitalization or long-term residential therapy.
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses. The number of people affected is on the rise. They don’t fit a particular profile, and they’re not easy to treat. Their consequences can be fatal. Eating disorders can be overcome, however, through proper treatment and effective professional intervention, like the kind you can give as an ED nurse.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, eating disorders have been shown to have a high correlation with substance abuse and depression. These disorders even can be the outcome of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Timothy Brewerton, MD of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, clinical professor of psychiatry. Stereotypes about eating disorders say those who suffer from it are typically adolescent or young adult females, but statistics show patients with eating disorders can range from 12 to 60 years of age, and some are men. Also, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recognizes the relationship between substance abuse and eating disorders, and equips addiction counselors with information on screening, referral and treatment modalities.
In each of this year’s Nurse.com specialty guides we’re focusing on preventive care and wellness, and one way to improve both is to recognize and reach out to this special patient population who literally may be crying out quietly for help.
In the cover story nurses who are involved in research and education on eating disorders discuss how and why these patients are being overlooked and what can be done to change that. Interviewees say patients with eating disorders will present in the ED for entirely different unrelated diagnoses, and because staff has only a limited amount of time with each patient, eating habits often are not addressed. Some patients say nothing about their eating disorder. Some report vague symptoms, while hiding the behaviors they know are causing the symptoms. Those who suffer from orthorexia — an extreme obsession with avoiding unhealthy foods — or bulimia may not look emaciated or thin; they can be of normal weight or even be overweight. This is where nurses can intervene, look beyond the obvious and do a thorough assessment. If the patient’s history makes you suspect an underlying eating disorder, nurses in the cover story suggest ED RNs address it with the patient. Also, they give advice on some specific care interventions from immediate treatment in the ED, to acute hospitalization or long-term residential therapy.
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses. The number of people affected is on the rise. They don’t fit a particular profile, and they’re not easy to treat. Their consequences can be fatal. Eating disorders can be overcome, however, through proper treatment and effective professional intervention, like the kind you can give as an ED nurse.
Eileen P. Williamson, RN, MSN, is senior vice president and chief nurse executive for Gannett Healthcare Group. Post a comment below or email specialty@nurse.com
