Eating Disorders, OCD & Trauma-Related Disorders

Anorexia nervosa involves severe caloric restriction and an intense fear of weight gain despite being underweight, with medical complications including bradycardia, hypotension, amenorrhea, and electrolyte imbalances that can become life-threatening. Bulimia nervosa involves cycles of bingeing and compensatory behaviors (self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, excessive exercise) — patients are often within a normal weight range, which can make the disorder less visible; classic physical signs include dental erosion from stomach acid exposure and calluses on the knuckles (Russell's sign) from self-induced vomiting. Refeeding syndrome is a critical safety concept: reintroducing nutrition too quickly in a severely malnourished patient can cause dangerous drops in phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium as the body shifts back into an anabolic state — nutrition must be reintroduced slowly and electrolytes monitored closely, not resumed at a normal full diet immediately.