Social information-processing and coping in adolescent females diagnosed with an eating disorder: toward a greater understanding of control.

The objective of this study was to examine differences in social information-processing and coping strategies between adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder and asymptomatic peers. Adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder (n = 50) were compared to asymptomatic control participants (n = 59) on a measure of social information-processing. Participants were presented with 4 hypothetical, ambiguous social dilemmas in which the intent of a peer provocateur was unclear. Questions followed each dilemma assessing intent attributions, the participant's emotional reaction, the intensity of the emotion, and coping strategies. The participants in treatment for an eating disorder were significantly more likely to perceive hostile intent from a peer provocateur, reported a greater intensity of negative emotions, and identified a significantly greater number of avoidant coping strategies. Specifically, the eating disorder group identified significantly more intrapunitive avoidant coping strategies that reflect maladaptive and self-destructive means of coping with distressing events. Results indicate social cognitive processing biases and maladaptive coping strategies may be instrumental in perceived loss of control and influence the development/maintenance of eating disorders.

A case report of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a pediatric patient with anorexia nervosa--restricting type.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy in a 15-year-old female patient with anorexia nervosa--restricting type. METHOD: The patient and family were interviewed. Literature relevant to the case was reviewed prior to diagnosis. RESULTS: The patient reported a 30-kg weight loss over a 6-month period, following a strict diet deplete in thiamine without vitamin supplementation. The patient reported a carbohydrate binge for 5 days prior to admission. Her clinical presentation, confusion, ataxia, nystagmus, and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating bilateral subthalamic hyperdensities were consistent with Wernicke's encephalopathy. Nutritional stabilization and parenteral thiamine replacement resulted in rapid improvement of her ataxia and nystagmus and contributed to her recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Wernicke's encephalopathy should be considered in patients with anorexia nervosa. Thiamine therapy could be considered in cases of anorexia nervosa with significant confusion.

Endocrine aspects of eating disorders in adolescents.

Eating disorders are an important health concern among adolescents. Young women frequently present with signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. These disorders represent clinically significant illnesses with serious and sometimes permanent medical complications, including a number of endocrine conditions, that, in general, result from the body s adaptive response to malnutrition. Examples include disorders of metabolism, cortisol and leptin regulation, fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, thyroid function, glucose regulation, growth and development, and reproductive function with the development of amenorrhea as well as the risk of osteoporosis.

Urethral Cancer.

Primary cancer of the urethra is an uncommon lesion with only slightly more than 400 cases in men, and slightly less than 1,100 cases in females reported in the literature. Review of these cases allows some generalizations. The most common tumor type in both sexes is squamous cell carcinoma. Signs and symptoms are varied and nonpathognomonic. Anterior or distal lesions in both sexes, in general, drain into inguinal lymph nodes, while posterior or proximal lesions drain into pelvic nodes; obviously some overlapping can occur. Anterior lesions are discovered earlier, are usually of lower stage, and can be controlled by less radical means than posterior tumors. They have a much better prognosis than posterior lesions. Although these cancers are rare, the diagnosis should always be considered in any patient with urethral complaints.