A nursing care for a male anorexia nervosa case: A case report

Abstract

Anorexia Nervosa is a serious mental disorder characterized by low body mass, excessive fear of weight gain and persistent behavior that prevents weight gain. This is a chronic disorder characterized by physical impairment, and has significant effects on the patient and their family. At the onset of the illness, trigger factors such as a criticism from friends, family members, or jokes about weight are common. This study presents a male patient diagnosed with "Anorexia Nervosa and Major Depression" at the age of 13, however it is not common in males. The family brought the patient to the hospital and he was admitted to the child psychiatry clinic after he was observed to have reluctance, intolerance and an unwillingness to eat. He was eating two tablespoons of food a day, drinking a half a glass of milk at school with a significant reduction of daily fluid and nutrient intake. A nursing care plan addressing the assessment of ineffective nourishment included the following; "eating less than required, fluid volume depletion, ineffective coping, body image distortion, discomfort in self-esteem, impairment in social interaction and constipation risk". The patient was observed to be quite reluctant and defensive during the interviews. Support from the patient's mother who was accompanying him was requested in order to implement the planned interventions effectively. It is suggested that studies on psychiatric care in adolescents with anorexia should be done to increase the knowledge on this subject and that the number of samples be more extensive.