Psychology - Eating Disorders/Dissociative Identity Disorder

Causes of dissociative identity disorder

-a high rate of sexual or physical abuse is associated with this disorder -researchers believe that people can deal with that type of trauma best by dissociating from the experience and developing alters as self protectors

Types of eating disorders

-anorexia nervosa -bulimia nervosa -binge eating

Characteristics of dissociative identity disorder

-having 2 or 3 distinct personalities or identities -each identity has its own memories, behaviors and relationships -they do not co-exist like multiple personality does. One identity dominates at one time. - The personalities are distinct and they do not acknowledge each other

Characteristics of binge eating disorder

-most people diagnosed are overweight and/or obese -often eat quickly and eat a great deal even when they are not hungry -often eats alone due to feelings of embarrassment in the amount of food they eat

Anorexia nervosa characteristics

-weight less than 85% of what is considered normal for age and height -an intense fear of gaining weight -distorted body image

Physical changes that occur from anorexia nervosa

Growth of fine hair all over the body, thinning bones and hair, severe constipation and low blood pressure.

Differences between dissociative identity disorder and multiple personality disorder

They have all the same characteristics except the personalities in multiple personality co-exist

What is bulimia associated with

a high incidence of sexual and physical abuse in childhood

Bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder in which the individual consistently flows a binge-and purge eating pattern

When does bulimia nervosa occur

begins in late adolescence or early adulthood.

How many people are effects by bulimia nervosa

between 1-4% of young women

Physical effects of bulimia nervosa

chronic sore throat, kidney problems, dehydration, gastrointestinal disorder and teeth problems from stomach acid

What happens if anorexia nervosa is not controlled?

could lead to death

Binge eating disorder (BED)

eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food during which the person feels a lack of control over eating

Dissociative amnesia

extreme memory loss that is caused by extensive psychological stress

What percentage of dissociative identity disorder patients have has sexual abuse?

in about 70% of cases where people were diagnosed with DID

When is anorexia nervosa most common

in girls and woman than men

When does anorexia usually start

in teenage years, often following an episode of dieting and some type of life stress

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) formerly called

multiple personality disorder

Most common sufferers of anorexia nervosa

non-latino white females, adolescents or young adults from well-educated middle and upper income families. They are often high achieving perfectionists.

Dissociative identity disorder (DID)

the most dramatic, least common and most controversial dissociative disorder

Eating disorder characteristics

the pursuit of thinness through starvation

What is purging

usually done by self-vomiting or the use of laxatives