The purpose of this case study is to give you experience in applying course mate
ID: 3495354 • Letter: T
Question
The purpose of this case study is to give you experience in applying course material to “real-life” situations and to examine issues relating to Health Psychology principles.
The case study will require at least 300-word analysis, and must be typed and double-spaced.
First read background information on Stella at http://lc.gcumedia.com/psy362/brain-based-learning/v1.1/scenarios.html; then do the following:
What (if any) eating disorder is Stella at risk for developing and what factors might be contributing?
What symptoms should her family/doctor look for that she has developed an eating disorder?
If she develops this eating disorder, what treatments might be effective in treating it?
Psychology
Brain Based Learning
Eating Disorder
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Meet Stella…
Stella is a 25-year-old female who strongly identifies with the prevalent dominant culture.
Because of this, she loves fashion, style, and clothes.
However, since turning 18, Stella has noticed that it is harder and harder for her to lose any weight she puts on.
Consequently, she spends many hours everyday thinking about how to lose weight and looks in the mirror at least 20 times per day obsessing over her size and shape.
To make matters worse, Stella’s relationship with her family is often negative and she has only a few close friends to confide in.
Stella’s classmates describe her as sometime strange and very socially awkward.
She often starts trendy crash diets, but ultimately ends up overeating and then feeling guilty for her failure.
Because of this guilt Stella often exhibits an outward depressed and/or angry mood.
Even Stella’s doctor says she is at a very normal weight for her age, but deep down inside she lives in constant fear of gaining more and more weight, as time goes by.
Explanation / Answer
What (if any) eating disorder is Stella at risk for developing and what factors might be contributing?
Stella is at a risk of developing an eating disorder when she starts with her crash diets. Subsequently she starts dieting and then ends up overeating. These fluctuations in food patterns pose a risk to her habits. Factors that are contributing is her obsession with her body image which makes her end up into such a regime.
What symptoms should her family/doctor look for that she has developed an eating disorder?
The symptoms that her doctor should be looking at are:
- anorexia: where she is starving herself (frequently) to maintain her weight.
- denial of hunger
- obsessing over losing weight
- fearing that she would gain weight
If she develops this eating disorder, what treatments might be effective in treating it?
Treatments for anorexia may include:
- psychotherapy
- acupuncture
- cognitive and behavioural therapy
- massage and yoga
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