Eating Behaviors and Related Factors in Psychiatric Patients

• Published in: Archives of psychiatric nursing 2018-04, Vol.32 (2), p.194-199
• Main Authors: Küçük, Leyla, Kaya, Hatice, Çömez, Tuba, Kaçar, Selma, Kutlu, Yasemin, Zülfikar, Haluk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Eating attitude; Mental disorder; Nursing; Nutrition
• ISSN: 0883-9417; 1532-8228
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2017.10.015

The aim of this study was to determine the risk of eating disorders and associated risk factors in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Patients who were hospitalized in a psychiatry clinic of the university hospital between the dates of February 2014 and July 2014 constitute sample for the study. The study sample consisted of a total of 216 patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire form and the Eating Attitude Test. The mean age of the patients was 37±0.5, and 56.9% of the patients were female. Problems in eating behavior were observed in 11.6% of the patients, and a statistically significant relationship was found between the risk of eating disorders and diagnosis, gender, exercise and self-perception of weight. The risk of eating disorders was more frequently observed in patients diagnosed with depression, in female patients with a self-perceived weight problem and do not exercise. •Psychiatric disorders and their treatment process cause change, mostly increase, in appetite and body weight by effecting eating habits and behaviors of the patients.•Psychiatry nurses give more importance to psychiatric symptoms, neglecting physical diagnosis.•The importance of the subject should be considered given the effect of eating behaviors and body perception of the patients on compliance with medication.