 •An eating disorder marked by the pursuit of extreme thinness, purposeful maintenance of a significantly low body weight, intense fear of becoming overweight, distorted view of of body weight, and the placement of inappropriate emphasis on body weight or shape in the evaluation of one self.

Anorexia Nervosa

While anorexia and bulimia nervosa can affect individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, the population most at risk tends to be White females residing in Western societies. Research also highlights that females aged 15 to 19 are particularly vulnerable.

Demographic Risk Factors for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

Sociocultural factors, such as the promotion of thinness as an ideal of beauty in media and fashion, are significant contributors to the development of eating disorders. While these pressures particularly affect many young females, eating disorders are prevalent across various ages and genders.

Sociocultural Influences on Eating Disorders

In addition to social and cultural influences, evidence indicates that genetic factors may contribute to the development of eating disorders. This suggests that some individuals might have a biological predisposition that increases their vulnerability to conditions like anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Genetic Predisposition to Eating Disorders

More severe symptoms of anxiety and depression are correlated with more debilitating eating disorder symptoms in young women.

Comorbidity with Anxiety and Depression

1. Sander, J., Moessner, M., & Bauer, S. (2021). Depression, Anxiety and Eating Disorder-Related Impairment: Moderators in Female Adolescents and Young Adults. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(5), 2779. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052779

References for Eating Disorders

Unlike the majority of the US adult population who struggle with being overweight, a significant minority experience eating disorders that commonly result in being underweight. A hallmark of these disorders is an intense fear of gaining weight.

Underweight in Eating Disorders

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory actions. Individuals consume abnormally large amounts of food and then attempt to offset this intake through behaviors such as purging or excessive exercising.

Bulimia Nervosa

Although anorexia and bulimia nervosa occur across various cultures, White females in Western societies are the most susceptible. Furthermore, research indicates that the highest risk population encompasses females between the ages of 15 and 19.

At-Risk Population for Eating Disorders

In addition to social and cultural influences, evidence suggests that genetic factors may predispose individuals to the development of eating disorders.

Genetic Factors in Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are strongly linked to sociocultural factors and are widely considered culturally-bound phenomena. Their development is particularly associated with the promotion of a thin ideal in popular media and the fashion industry.

Cultural Factors in Eating Disorders

While anorexia and bulimia nervosa are present in many different cultures, White females from Western societies, specifically those between the ages of 15 and 19, represent the population with the highest risk of developing these disorders.

At-Risk Populations for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

Eating disorders are widely suspected to be culturally-bound phenomena. Their prevalence is strongly associated with societal messages and the thin ideal frequently promoted in the fashion world and popular media.

Cultural Influences on Eating Disorders

Unlike the majority of the adult population that struggles with being overweight, a significant minority experiences eating disorders, which frequently lead to individuals being underweight. People with these conditions, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, typically have an intense fear of weight gain and are at risk for severe adverse health outcomes.

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Psychological disorders are broadly characterized as conditions involving abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. More formally, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a psychological disorder as a syndrome that includes a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. This disturbance is understood to reflect a dysfunction in the underlying psychological, biological, or developmental processes of mental functioning and is typically associated with significant distress or impairment in important areas of life.

Psychological Disorders

What Are Eating Disorders?, https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders. 

What are Eating Disorders

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders are characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Some examples of these disorders are: 
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Hoarding Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

A disorder that results from experiencing or witnessing something that makes one feel afraid, terrified, or powerless and makes them think that their life, bodily integrity, or safety are in danger. It manifests as painful and intrusive memories of the stressful event, jitteriness, ongoing negative emotional states, social distancing, violent outbursts, and avoiding reminders of the incident.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Anxiety disorders are common psychological disorders that are rooted in excessive fear and worry. They are also often comorbid with other mood and personality disorders.

Anxiety Disorders

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder that can develop in individuals who have experienced or witnessed extremely stressful or traumatic events. Such events include, but are not limited to, combat, natural disasters, crimes, and sexual traumas, and can affect anyone regardless of background.

The core feature of dissociative disorders is a sense of detachment from one's own self, which leads to significant disruptions in memory and identity. These conditions are characterized by psychological disturbances where an individual feels disconnected from their core being.

Dissociative Disorder

Neurodevelopmental Disorders are characterized by delays or impairments in personal, social, academic, and or intellectual functioning, which are often detected early in childhood. Neurodevelopmental disorders are lifelong, although symptoms and support needs may vary over time. Neurodevelopmental disorders are caused by a combination of genetic, prenatal, perinatal, and environmental factors

Some common neurodevelopmental disorders include
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) 
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Intellectual Disability (ID)

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The diagnosis of a psychological disorder requires the systematic and accurate assessment of signs and symptoms. This process can be carried out through using diagnostic instruments such as the: 
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
- International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

Diagnosis

A personality disorder is defined by a pervasive and inflexible personality style that significantly deviates from cultural norms, causing problems for the individual and for others. This pattern typically emerges during adolescence or early adulthood and leads to significant distress or functional impairment.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are mental conditions cause those who suffer from them to exhibit erratic, inflexible, or even violent behavior. These mental conditions are usually stable and arise during adolescence or early adulthood.

To determine if a psychological disorder is present, mental health professionals must agree on which inner experiences and behaviors are truly symptomatic. While characteristics such as being atypical or violating social norms can serve as indicators, it is widely recognized that neither criterion is sufficient on its own to define a disorder. Therefore, more comprehensive frameworks, like the harmful dysfunction model, are utilized to conceptualize these conditions and form the basis for formal diagnostic criteria.

Criteria for Defining Psychological Disorders

A key area of study in psychopathology involves identifying the prevalence, or frequency, of different mental disorders within the general population. While rates can fluctuate based on demographic factors and diagnostic criteria, certain categories of disorders, such as anxiety and depressive disorders, are consistently found to be among the most common.

Prevalence of Psychological Disorders

A psychological disorder is a condition that an individual has, rather than a trait that defines who they are. This distinction is critical, as these disorders are debilitating illnesses, much like cancer or diabetes, for which the individual is not at fault and did not choose to have.

Psychological Disorders as Conditions, Not Personal Identities

The complexity of psychopathology has led to a variety of etiological theories and perspectives for understanding its origins. Historically, a supernatural perspective attributed disorders to divine forces or spirit possession. In contrast, the modern biological perspective views them as resulting from faulty biological processes, an understanding advanced by decades of scientific research. The psychological perspective highlights the role of psychological and environmental factors like stress and thought patterns. Finally, a contemporary integrative approach combines biological and psychosocial factors to provide a more comprehensive explanation.

Perspectives on the Origin of Psychological Disorders

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a key resource for individuals in crisis, offering support via phone at 1-800-273-8255. A related service, the Crisis Text Line, provides help through text message by texting HELLO to 741741.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is an organization that serves as a resource for those seeking information and support related to suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

The National Institute of Health (NIH) is a source of information on suicide, which can be accessed through its official website.

National Institute of Health (NIH) Resources on Suicide

Based on the provided case study, analyze the individual's situation. Explain which elements of their experience align with the formal definition of a psychological disorder, specifically addressing the criteria of significant disturbance, dysfunction, and distress or impairment.

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