Bulimia Nervosa

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Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging or consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time, followed by an attempt to rid oneself of the food consumed, usually by purging (vomiting) and/or by laxative, diuretics or excessive exercise. Bulimia nervosa is nine times more likely to occur in women than men (Barker 2003). Antidepressants, especially SSRIs, are widely used in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. (Newell and Gournay 2000).


The term bulimia comes from Greek βουλιμία (boulīmia; ravenous hunger), a compound of βους (bous), ox + λιμός (līmos), hunger. Bulimia nervosa was named and first described by the British psychiatrist Gerald Russell in 1979. Bulimia is strongly familial. Twin studies estimate the heritability of syndromic bulimia to be 54 to 83%.

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Signs and symptoms

These cycles often involve rapid and out-of-control eating, which may stop when the bulimic is interrupted by another person or the stomach hurts from overextension, followed by self-induced vomiting or other forms of purging. This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day,[8] and may directly cause:

• Chronic gastric reflux after eating
• Dehydration and hypokalemia caused by frequent vomiting
• Electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and even death
• Esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus
• Boerhaave syndrome, a rupture in the esophageal wall due to vomiting
• Oral trauma, in which repetitive insertion of fingers or other objects causes lacerations to the lining of the mouth or throat
• Gastroparesis or delayed emptying
• Constipation
• Infertility
• Enlarged glands in the neck, under the jaw line
• Peptic ulcers
• Calluses or scars on back of hands due to repeated trauma from incisors[9][10]
• Constant weight fluctuations are common

The erosion on the lower teeth was caused by Bulimia; a dentist did NOT drill these teeth. For comparison, the upper teeth were restored with porcelain veneers.




The frequent contact between teeth and gastric acid, in particular, may cause:

• Severe dental erosion
• Perimolysis, or the erosion of tooth enamel
• Swollen salivary glands

As with many psychiatric illnesses, delusions can occur with other signs and symptoms leaving the person with a false belief that is not ordinarily accepted by others.
The person may also suffer physical complications such as tetany, epileptic seizures, cardiac arrhythmias and muscle weakness.(ICD-10)
People with bulimia nervosa may also exercise to a point that excludes other activitie.


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