Nursing Care Plan for Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an illness of starvation, brought on by severe disturbance of body image and a
morbid fear of obesity. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder (binge-purge syndrome) characterized by extreme overeating, followed by self-induced vomiting. It may include abuse of laxatives and diuretics. Binge-eating is defined as recurrent episodes of overeating associated with subjective and behavioral indicators of impaired control over and significant distress about the eating behavior but without the use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive exercise).

DSM-IV
307.1 Anoxexia nervosa
307.51 Bulimia nervosa
307.50 Eating disorders NOS
Binge-eating disorder (proposed, requiring further study)

ETIOLOGICAL THEORIES
Psychodynamics
The individual reflects a developmental arrest in the very early childhood years. The tasks of trust, autonomy, and separation-individuation are unfulfilled, and the individual remains in the dependent position. Ego development is retarded. Symptoms are often associated with a perceived loss of control in some aspect of life and may center on fears of sexual maturity/intimacy. Although these disorders affect women primarily, approximately 5% to 10% of those afflicted are men. Additionally, eating disorders are often associated with depression, anxiety, phobias, and cognitive problems.

Biological
These disorders may be caused by neuroendocrine abnormalities within the hypothalamus. Symptoms are linked to various chemical disturbances normally regulated by the hypothalamus. Furthermore, a physiological defect may make it difficult for the individual to interpret sensations of hunger and fullness.

Family Dynamics
Issues of control become the overriding factors in the family of the client with an eating disorder. These families often consist of a passive father, a domineering mother, and an overly dependent child. There is a high value placed on perfectionism in this family, and the child believes she or he must please others and satisfy these standards.

NURSING PRIORITIES
1. Reestablish adequate/appropriate nutritional intake.
2. Correct fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
3. Assist client to develop realistic body image/improve self-esteem.
4. Provide support/involve SO, if available, in treatment program to client/SO.
5. Coordinate total treatment program with other disciplines.
6. Provide information about disease, prognosis, and treatment.

DISCHARGE GOALS
1. Adequate nutrition and fluid intake maintained.
2. Maladaptive coping behaviors and stressors that precipitate anxiety recognized.
3. Adaptive coping strategies and techniques for anxiety reduction and self-control implemented.
4. Self-esteem increased.
5. Disease process, prognosis, and treatment regimen understood.
6. Plan in place to meet needs after discharge.

Nursing diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa: NUTRITION: altered, less than body requirements may be related to inadequate food intake; self-induced vomiting and chronic/excessive laxative use possibly evidenced by body weight 15% (or more) below expected (anorexia), or may be within normal range (bulimia, binge-eating), pale conjunctiva and mucous membranes; poor skin turgor/muscle tone, edema, excessive loss of hair; increased growth of body hair (lanugo), amenorrhea, hypothermia, bradycardia, cardiac irregularities, hypotension, electrolyte imbalances.

Desired Outcome:
1. Verbalize understanding of nutritional needs.
2. Establish a dietary pattern with caloric intake adequate to regain/maintain appropriate weight.
3. Demonstrate weight gain toward expected goal range.

Nursing intervention with rationale:
1. Establish a minimum weight goal and daily nutritional requirements.
Rationale: Malnutrition is a mood-altering condition leading to depression and agitation and affecting cognitive functioning/decision-making. Improved nutritional status enhances thinking ability, and psychological work can begin.

2. Involve client with team in setting up/carrying out program of behavior modification. Provide reward for weight gain as individually determined; ignore loss.
Rationale: Provides structured eating stimulation while allowing client some control in choices. Behavior modification may be effective only in mild cases or for short-term weight gain. Note: Combination of cognitive-behavioral approach is preferred for treating bulimia.

3. Use a consistent approach. Sit with client while eating; present and remove food without persuasion and/or comment. Promote pleasant environment and record intake.
Rationale: Client detects urgency and reacts to pressure. Any comment that might be seen as coercion provides focus on food. When staff member responds consistently, client can begin to trust her or his responses. The single area in which client has exercised power and control is food/eating, and she or he may experience guilt or rebellion if forced to eat. Structuring meals and decreasing discussions about food will decrease power struggles with client and avoid manipulative games.

4. Provide smaller meals and supplemental snacks, as appropriate.
Rationale: Gastric dilation may occur if refeeding is too rapid following a period of starvation dieting. Note: Client may feel bloated for 3–6 weeks while body readjusts to food intake.

5. Make selective menu available and allow client to control choices, as much as possible.
Rationale: Client who gains self-confidence and feels in control of environment is more likely to eat preferred foods.

6. Be alert to choices of low-calorie foods/beverages; hoarding food; disposing of food in various places such as pockets or wastebaskets.
Rationale: Client will try to avoid taking in what is viewed as excessive calories and may go to great lengths to avoid eating.

7. Maintain a regular weighing schedule, such as Monday/Friday before breakfast in same attire, on same scale, and graph results.
Rationale: Provides accurate ongoing record of weight loss/gain. Also diminishes obsessing about changes in weight.

8. Weigh with back to scale (depending on program protocols).
Rationale: Although some programs prefer client to see the results of weighing, this approach can force the issue of trust in client who usually does not trust others.

9. Consult with dietitian/nutritional therapy team.
Rationale: Helpful in determining individual dietary needs and appropriate sources. Note: Insufficient calorie and protein intake can lower resistance to infection and cause constipation, hallucinations, and liver damage.

10. Transfer to acute medical setting for nutritional therapy, when condition is life-threatening.
Rationale: The underlying problem cannot be cured without improved nutritional status. Hospitalization provides a controlled environment in which food intake, vomiting/elimination, medications, and activities can be monitored. It also separates the client from SO(s) and provides exposure to others with the same problem, creating an atmosphere for sharing.