Post‐traumatic anorexia nervosa—A case study

The nature of the relationship between accidental trauma and psychopathology may not always be clear. Cases of post‐traumatic anorexia nervosa have been described but without detailed attention to pre‐existing psychopathological processes. This may give rise to spurious conclusions about direction of causality. We describe a male patient who developed anorexia nervosa on two occasions, both episodes occurring during the convalescent period following traumatic accidents several years apart. The intervening period was characterized by strict self‐regulation and conflict avoidance, typical of anorexia nervosa but with the body maintained at only a moderately low weight. We suggest that accidents can arise at times of crisis in such ongoing attempts at intense self‐regulation. They may then reflect the escape from control of impulsivity and also provide an ultimate means of avoidance of further guilt‐laden behaviour. They can be understood in the light of pre‐existing psychopathology. The difficulties in early recognition and diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, especially in the male and in the absence of extreme weight loss are also discussed

Accidental · Anorexia · Anorexia nervosa · Eating disorders · Impulsivity · Psychiatry · Psychopathology · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Humor Studies and Applications · Medicine · Psychology · Restraint-Related Deaths