Approximately 37 to 40% of those with bulimia nervosa experience co=occurring PTSD [4]. Rates of PTSD are higher in individuals with purging behaviors than any other eating disorder behaviors [4].
Approximately one-third of women with bulimia, 20% with binge eating disorder and 11.8% with non-bulimic/non binge eating disorders met criteria for lifetime PTSD.
Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.
What Are the Effects of Bulimia? Like all eating disorders, bulimia is a serious illness. It can permanently damage your body and can even be deadly. People with bulimia will often eat large amounts of food, or binge, and then try to get rid of the calories in what is called a purge.
Psychological symptoms of bulimia nervosa
sensitivity to comments about eating, dieting, exercise or body image. feelings of shame, guilt and disgust, especially after eating and/or purging. a distorted body image or extreme dissatisfaction with body shape. anxiety or irritability around meal times.
Bulimia nervosa (commonly known as bulimia) is an eating disorder and serious mental health problem. Someone with bulimia might feel parts of their lives are out of control and use purging to give them a sense of control. Bulimia is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage, but help is available.
In fact, Bulimia Nervosa is commonly co-occurring with drug addictions. Many research studies have demonstrated the overlapping behaviors of eating disorders and substance abuse and the similar addictive personality that is often observed in individuals who suffer with both addictions and bulimia.
Given the health problems that occur alongside bulimia, there is an increased risk of death among people who live with this eating disorder. Research has shown that the crude mortality rate of bulimia is 3.9% over the long term.
Other effects can include cavities, gum disease, intestinal problems, hair loss, dry skin, sleep problems, stroke, and organ failure. Due to this intense damage to the body, people with bulimia are at risk of death if they do not seek treatment.
Over time, bulimia can cause a person to experience very serious symptoms, such as severe dehydration, organ damage, stroke, and heart attack. Some of these symptoms can be life-threatening or cause permanent damage to the body.
Personality traits such as neuroticism (emotional stability), obsessiveness, and perfectionism play a large role in facilitating some eating disorders, particularly anorexia and bulimia. Research suggests that these traits are at least partially driven by genetics.
Borderline personality is the most common personality disorder in bulimia nervosa, as well.
Neurological Effects on the Brain Caused by Bulimia Nervosa
Eating disorders can have a variety of effects on the brain as well. Repeated binge eating episodes can alter the way the brain releases and distributes serotonin, not to mention the various deficiencies in brain function resulting from prolonged malnutrition.
Many people with bulimia severely restrict calories between binge episodes, which may trigger an urge to again binge eat and then purge. Other triggers for bingeing can include stress, poor body self-image, food and boredom.
Background. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a common eating disorder with the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric diseases. However, few studies have examined inpatient characteristics and treatment for AN.
To compensate for overeating, they may purge, like vomiting or using laxatives. To be classified as bulimia by a doctor, someone must binge eat and purge — or use other ways to prevent or control their weight — once a week for at least 3 months.
Walsh said, "we have people who are obese and binge but don't vomit," so they don't fit into the strict definition of bulimia nervosa, which requires both binging and purging. Or they might binge and vomit once a week, but to qualify as bulimic they would have to vomit at least twice a week.
Long Term Effects of Bulimia
People with severe BN (8-13 binge/purge episodes per week), and extreme BN (14 or more binge/purge episodes per week) may experience both short- and long-term complications related to the eating disorder, depending on the type and frequency of purging.
Mental and Emotional Effects
The effects of bulimia can damage the brain's ability to concentrate and make decisions. Those with bulimia sometimes suffer from psychological issues that can last years and even endanger their lives. Some individuals fall into a such great depression that they may become suicidal.
The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least once a week for three months. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
Bipolar Disorder and Bulimia
As mentioned above, individuals with bipolar disorder are also more likely to experience bulimia nervosa behaviors. Purging is an impulsive behavior, therefore, those with bipolar disorder might engage in both bingeing and purging behaviors when in a manic or hypomanic state.
The only antidepressant specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat bulimia is fluoxetine (Prozac), a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which may help even if you're not depressed.
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder and mental health condition. People with bulimia are very anxious about their weight and focused on having the 'right' body shape. They also spend a lot of time thinking about food.