Post-traumatic stress disorder and bulimia nervosa

Symptoms of PTSD Affective – emotional numbing Behavioral- hyper vigilance, passivity, nightmares, flashbacks and exaggerated startle response Cognitive – intrusive memories, inability to concentrate and hyper arousal. Somatic – lower back pain, headaches, stomach ache and digestion problems, insomnia, loss of already acquired developmental skills such as speech and training.

Prevalence rates Lifetime prevalence – 6.8% of U.S. population 12 month prevalence – 3.5% of U.S. population Average onset age – 23 years old According to Achenbach (1991) males are more likely to externalize symptoms (delinquency, aggression) and girls are more likely to internalize symptoms (depression, anxiety)

Bulimia Nervosa symptoms Affective – feelings of inadequacy, guilt or shame Behavioral – recurrent episodes of binge eating, use of vomiting laxatives, exercise or dieting to control weight Cognitive – negative self-image, poor body image, tendency to perceive events as more stressful than most people would Somatic – swollen salivary glands, erosion of tooth enamel, stomach or intestinal problems and, in extreme causes, hear problems

Prevalence rates In western countries ranged from 0.1% to 5.7% and from 0% to 2.1% in males and from 0.3% to 7.3% in females. In non-Western countries ranged from 0.46% to 3.2% in females. So bulimia nervosa prevalence rate in females from non-Western cultures is lower than in Western cultures.