Comorbid anorexia nervosa and schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction

Although schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa are very different disorders, when they occur in the same patient it can be difficult to distinguish whether the alterations in body image are due to psychotic symptoms or correspond to a comorbid eating disorder. It is also relevant to know how they can interact with each other.

Objectives

Presentation of a clinical case of anorexia nervosa in the context of a patient with a previous diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

Methods

Bibliographic review of the relationship between schizophrenia and alterations in the perception of body image by searching for articles in Pubmed.

Results

We present a 48-year-old woman who resides with her mother and a sister. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and eating disorder. She had previously been admitted to hospital twice. Since 2004, she has been followed up in mental health consultations. The patient reports constant weight changes. A year ago she began to feel overweight and began to restrict her intake and to exercise, having lost 20 kg. She reports psychotic symptoms in the past, that she now denies. Various scales show moderate impact of weight on personal perception of psychosocial adjustment, an impulse to thinness and a significant distortion of body image, perceiving herself as heavier than she is and wishing she was lighter.

Conclusions

In schizophrenia, confusion in bodily experiences and states is not uncommon. The possible interactions between the symptoms of schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa complicate the adequate care of these patients. Further research on comorbidity of these two disorders is necessary.