Pregnancy and early parenthood: factors in the development of anorexia nervosa?
Most psychologic and social theories of anorexia focus on the developmental pressures that challenge adolescent girls. Pregnancy, which causes profound physical, emotional, and cognitive changes, could represent an amplification of these developmental pressures. In this case study, pregnancy is suggested as a possible contributor to the development of anorexia in a 17-year-old female. Although she has other factors associated with the development of anorexia, the psychological and physical changes of pregnancy appear to be the crucial changes which precipitated anorexia nervosa.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center, California, USA.
L R
LR
Benton-Hardy
J
J
Lock
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001828:Body Image; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors