Bulimia nervosa

Revision as of 16:02, 22 March 2016 by Ostermayer (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "Category:Psych" to "Category:Psychiatry")

Background

  • Usually normal BMI or slightly overweight
  • Pattern of binging and purging with vomiting, laxative/diuretic abuse
  • Purges from as often as 1-2/wk to 10x/day
  • Most commonly late adolescent females
  • Associated with borderline, narcissistic personality disorders

Clinical Features

  • Dental enamel loss
  • Scarring of dorsal fingers, hand
  • Salivary gland swelling

DDx

General Psychiatric

Labs

  • Dependent on type of purging
  • Electrolytes[1]
' Na+ K+ Cl- Bicarb pH
Vomiting Variable
Laxatives Nl to ↑ Variable Variable Variable
Diuretics ↓ to nl

Management[2]

  • IVF volume replacement
  • Potassium oral replacement 40-80 mEq/day
  • Referral to psych for CBT

See Also

Sources

  1. Mehler PS. Bulimia nervosa. N Engl J Med 2003;349:876.
  2. Metabolic Abnormalities in Bulimia Nervosa. Am Fam Physician. 2004 Mar 15;69(6):1530-1532.