Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach | Margaret Jordan Halter (8th Edition) - Feeding, Eating, and Elimination Disorders | Chapter 18 - Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (8th)

Chapter 18 of Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach (8th Edition) explores feeding, eating, and elimination disorders, emphasizing etiology, diagnostic features, treatment, and nursing care. The chapter reviews anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, outlining their hallmark symptoms, such as distorted body image, food restriction, purging, and loss-of-control eating. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, altered serotonin regulation, cultural ideals of thinness, family dynamics, and trauma. Medical complications are detailed, including electrolyte imbalance, cardiac dysrhythmias, gastrointestinal damage, and endocrine disturbances. Assessment focuses on weight history, eating behaviors, psychosocial influences, and physical consequences, using standardized tools such as the Eating Disorder Inventory. Treatment strategies include nutritional rehabilitation, pharmacological interventions (SSRIs for bulimia and binge-eating, atypical antipsychotics for anorexia-related distortions), and evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family-based therapy (FBT). Nursing interventions emphasize building a therapeutic alliance, monitoring physiological stability, setting realistic goals, and addressing distorted thinking patterns. The chapter also discusses elimination disorders, including enuresis and encopresis, with attention to developmental, psychological, and family factors. Interventions include behavioral modification, family education, and support to reduce stigma and promote adaptive functioning. Nurses are guided in fostering recovery-oriented care that integrates biological, psychological, and social perspectives. By mastering the assessment and management of feeding, eating, and elimination disorders, psychiatric-mental health nurses are prepared to provide evidence-based, compassionate care that promotes resilience and long-term recovery. 📘 Read full blog summaries for every chapter: https://lastminutelecture.com 📘 Have a book recommendation? Submit your suggestion here: https://forms.gle/y7vQQ6WHoNgKeJmh8 Thank you for being a part of our little Last Minute Lecture family! ⚠️ Disclaimer: These summaries are created for educational and entertainment purposes only. They provide transformative commentary and paraphrased overviews to help students understand key ideas from the referenced textbooks. Last Minute Lecture is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any textbook publisher or author. All textbook titles, names, and cover images—when shown—are used under nominative fair use solely for identification of the work being discussed. Some portions of the writing and narration are generated with AI-assisted tools to enhance accessibility and consistency. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, these materials are intended to supplement—not replace—official course readings, lectures, or professional study resources. Always refer to the original textbook and instructor guidance for complete and authoritative information.