THE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OF ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

The physical complications of anorexia nervosa are common and can be l ife threatening, but psychiatrists and the increasing number of non-me dical therapists involved in treatment programmes often overlook these complications. Cardiovascular complications are the most common, and the most likely to result in fatalities, particularly in those patient s who vomit, purge or abuse diuretics, because of the electrolyte abno rmalities induced. Osteoporosis is an early and perhaps irreversible c onsequence of severe weight loss. Further, there are dangers in rapid intravenous hyperalimentation.