Eating Disorder Treatment Flashcards

Which criterion differentiates purging disorder from bulimia nervosa?

Answer: Purging disorder involves compensatory behaviors after normal-sized meals, not binges

In purging disorder, compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives) occur after regular meals without objective binge episodes.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is particularly useful early in eating disorder treatment because:

Answer: It addresses ambivalence and builds intrinsic motivation to change

MI helps patients explore their own ambivalence about recovery, which is essential before they are ready to engage in behavioral change.

Which nutrition intervention is recommended when initiating refeeding in a hospitalized anorexia patient to reduce refeeding syndrome risk?

Answer: Begin at 1000–1200 kcal/day and advance slowly

Conservative caloric initiation (typically 1000–1200 kcal/day) with gradual advancement reduces the risk of refeeding syndrome.

A patient with bulimia nervosa reports feeling 'numb' and turning to bingeing to cope with emotional distress. Which therapy is best suited for targeting emotion regulation deficits?

Answer: Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

DBT specifically targets emotion dysregulation through distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and mindfulness skills.

Dental erosion on the lingual surfaces of maxillary teeth is a clinical sign most consistent with:

Answer: Frequent self-induced vomiting

Gastric acid from self-induced vomiting erodes the lingual (tongue-side) surfaces of upper front teeth, a finding called perimolysis.

In the stepped-care model for eating disorder treatment, which level of care is appropriate for a medically stable patient with moderate symptoms who cannot attend day treatment?

Answer: Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

IOP (typically 3–5 days/week, 3 hours/day) bridges the gap for medically stable patients who need more support than weekly outpatient therapy.

A CDN is asked to assess a patient's readiness for change. According to the transtheoretical model, a patient who says 'I know I have a problem but I'm not ready to do anything about it' is in which stage?

Answer: Contemplation

Contemplation is characterized by awareness of a problem with ambivalence — acknowledging the issue but not yet committed to action.