Case Study: Amber

Case Study: Amber

Amber is a 16-year-old female presented to you for counseling. Her parents bring her in because she has begun to withdraw socially over the last few months, and they have seen a negative change in her attitude and demeanor. You meet with Amber and her parents together first, and her parents tell you that Amber has stopped participating in family activities, such as eating dinner together as a family. She insists on eating alone in her room. You comment that Amber appears to be significantly underweight--her parents have noticed that she's lost weight, but they say she's always been "fit."

When you meet with Amber alone, you find out that she does at times engage in purging behaviors following meals. However, she eats extremely small portions. Her parents are not aware of the fact that she uses laxatives and vomits after she eats. Amber has two younger sisters, 11 & 13, who are "perfect." Amber just doesn't want to be left out.

Amber Is struggling with an eating disorder (Anorexia Nervosa- Binge-eating/Purging type)

Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight, has an extreme fear of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant disturbance in perception of body shape and weight of his and her body. For a diagnosis of Anorexia to be made, Criterion A guideline shows that an individual has meet the threshold for being underweight (below normal level for age and height). Criterion A shows that the individual weighs less than 85% of that weight that is considered normal for that person's age and height. The onset of this illness may be associated with stressful life events.

Signs and Symptoms include:

- Withdrawal/ decrease in normal activity

- Denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight

- Absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles

- Complaints of constipation, abdominal pain and excess energy.

- Development peripheral edema during weight restoration or on cessation of laxative.

- Individuals who induce vomiting may have dental enamel erosion and have scars or calluses on the dorsum of the hand from contact with the teeth when using the hand to induce vomiting.

- Dryness of skin

If condition gets worse, it can result in chronic dehydration, cardiovascular problems, dental problems, and osteoporosis. If death occurs it is the result from starvation, suicide, or electrolyte imbalance.