Complications of anorexia nervosa - literature review

Introduction Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental disorder characterised by a strong fear of gaining weight, impaired self-perception and weight loss activities. It mainly affects young females and has the highest mortality rate of mental disorders. The aetiology is multifactorial, and treatment most often consists of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. The sooner it is started, the better the effect it brings. Aim of the Study The aim of this publication is to present possible complications in the course of anorexia nervosa. This is to emphasise that anorexic patients require multidisciplinary care. Materials and Methods An analysis of papers available in PubMed was performed. The following keywords were used: anorexia nervosa, anorexia nervosa complications. Description of the state of knowledge Anorexia nervosa is classified as a mental disorder, but it nevertheless has many physical consequences. Patients hospitalised for AN often present multiple somatic symptoms. It affects, among others, the cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, pulmonary and digestive systems. Malnutrition triggers many mechanisms that manifest themselves in different ways and sometimes lead to irreversible changes. Conclusions Malnutrition has consequences in almost every system and organ. They range from mild to life-threatening. Some of them can even contribute to or trigger sudden death. It is worth emphasising that most complications disappear after returning to normal body weight and proper nutrition. The recovery process is also fraught with risk, as complications can also occur in its course. .