IPC CERTIFICATION PREPARATION GUIDE 2026
TESTED QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE ANSWERS
▶ eating disorder considerations - neuroendocrine Answer: hypothalamus
via dopamine control appetite
they get a dopamine hit from eating 50 calories less than the day before;
they are gaining something
▶ Anorexia nervosa - disorder & origin Answer: Greek:
ἀ (a-) = without
ὄρεξις (orexis) = appetite Literal: "Without appetite from nervous causes"
▶ Anorexia nervosa - DSM-5 Key Features Answer: Severe restriction of
intake
Significantly low body weight
Intense fear of weight gain
Body image distortion
Limited insight into severity of illness
▶ Bulimia Nervosa - disorder & origin Answer: Greek:
βοῦς (bous) = ox
λιμός (limos) = hunger Literal: "Ox-like / ravenous hunger"
▶ Bulimia Nervosa - DSM-5 Key Features Answer: Recurrent binge
episodes
Compensatory behaviors - lack of control to stop eating
Vomiting, laxatives, fasting, excessive exercise
Self-worth heavily tied to body shape/weight
▶ Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - disorder & origin Answer: Origin:
Modern psychiatric term
Added officially in DSM-5
No ancient Greek root
▶ Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - DSM-5 Key Features Answer: Bingeing
without compensatory behaviors
,Eats rapidly or until uncomfortably full - large amounts of food over short
period of time
Often eats when not hungry
Binges alone due to shame
Feelings of guilt, disgust, distress
▶ how often does Bulimia Nervosa occur Answer: Occurs ≥ once/week for
3 months
▶ Anorexia Nervosa - restricting type: weight loss primarily through?
Answer: Weight loss primarily through:
Calorie restriction
Fasting
Excessive exercise
▶ Anorexia Nervosa - restricting type: how do they present Answer: - This
group often presents with intense perfectionism and rigid rule-based eating.
= Like control in all aspects of their life
- Significantly underweight - intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
- Little insight to how thin they actually are
▶ which eating disorder has highest mortality rate Answer: Anorexia purge
type - highest mortality (really underweight + compensatory measures) :
kidney failure, pass out, heart dysrhythmias
▶ Binge Eating/Purging Type Answer: The individual engages in episodes
of binge eating or purging (vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas).
Behaviors may occur even if binges are small by typical standards.
This subtype is associated with more medical complications and greater
psychiatric comorbidity.
▶ unlike bulimia, binge eating/purging type??? Answer: body weight
remains significantly low.
▶ what are the 2 types of bulimia nervosa Answer: purging, non-purging
▶ anorexia nervosa - insight? Answer: limited insight in to severity of illness
▶ anorexia nervosa - coping style Answer: turns away from food to cope;
restriction provides control, emotional numbness
, ▶ anorexia - weight status Answer: typically significantly underweight
▶ anorexia - onset Answer: earlier onset: early/mid adolescence
▶ anorexia - mortality Answer: highest mortality of all disorders
▶ anorexia = Answer: restriction, denial, high mortality
▶ bulimia = Answer: binge/purge cycle, insight, emotional coping with food
▶ bulimia nervosa - insight and awareness? Answer: recognizes abnormal
binge/purge behaviors
high shame, guilt, distress
▶ bulimia nervosa - core preoccupation Answer: focused on achieving an
'ideal' but unrealistic weight
less emphasis on extreme thinness
▶ bulimia nervosa - weight status Answer: usually normal weight or slightly
overweight
▶ bulimia nervosa - prevalence Answer: more common than anorexia
▶ bulimia nervosa - medical risk Answer: lower mortality than anorexia
▶ what is the most common eating disorder Answer: binge eating disorder
▶ Binge eating disorder typically affects what age range Answer: 45-55
▶ binge eating disorder - main risks Answer: weight gain increases risks for
DM and HTN (not doing anything like excessively exercising to
compensate)
▶ nursing care of eating disorders - first thing you should do Answer: Make
sure to rule out other physical illnesses first
▶ nursing care of eating disorders - check __ and __ Answer: Russell's
sign - callused hands from vomiting
TESTED QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE ANSWERS
▶ eating disorder considerations - neuroendocrine Answer: hypothalamus
via dopamine control appetite
they get a dopamine hit from eating 50 calories less than the day before;
they are gaining something
▶ Anorexia nervosa - disorder & origin Answer: Greek:
ἀ (a-) = without
ὄρεξις (orexis) = appetite Literal: "Without appetite from nervous causes"
▶ Anorexia nervosa - DSM-5 Key Features Answer: Severe restriction of
intake
Significantly low body weight
Intense fear of weight gain
Body image distortion
Limited insight into severity of illness
▶ Bulimia Nervosa - disorder & origin Answer: Greek:
βοῦς (bous) = ox
λιμός (limos) = hunger Literal: "Ox-like / ravenous hunger"
▶ Bulimia Nervosa - DSM-5 Key Features Answer: Recurrent binge
episodes
Compensatory behaviors - lack of control to stop eating
Vomiting, laxatives, fasting, excessive exercise
Self-worth heavily tied to body shape/weight
▶ Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - disorder & origin Answer: Origin:
Modern psychiatric term
Added officially in DSM-5
No ancient Greek root
▶ Binge Eating Disorder (BED) - DSM-5 Key Features Answer: Bingeing
without compensatory behaviors
,Eats rapidly or until uncomfortably full - large amounts of food over short
period of time
Often eats when not hungry
Binges alone due to shame
Feelings of guilt, disgust, distress
▶ how often does Bulimia Nervosa occur Answer: Occurs ≥ once/week for
3 months
▶ Anorexia Nervosa - restricting type: weight loss primarily through?
Answer: Weight loss primarily through:
Calorie restriction
Fasting
Excessive exercise
▶ Anorexia Nervosa - restricting type: how do they present Answer: - This
group often presents with intense perfectionism and rigid rule-based eating.
= Like control in all aspects of their life
- Significantly underweight - intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
- Little insight to how thin they actually are
▶ which eating disorder has highest mortality rate Answer: Anorexia purge
type - highest mortality (really underweight + compensatory measures) :
kidney failure, pass out, heart dysrhythmias
▶ Binge Eating/Purging Type Answer: The individual engages in episodes
of binge eating or purging (vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas).
Behaviors may occur even if binges are small by typical standards.
This subtype is associated with more medical complications and greater
psychiatric comorbidity.
▶ unlike bulimia, binge eating/purging type??? Answer: body weight
remains significantly low.
▶ what are the 2 types of bulimia nervosa Answer: purging, non-purging
▶ anorexia nervosa - insight? Answer: limited insight in to severity of illness
▶ anorexia nervosa - coping style Answer: turns away from food to cope;
restriction provides control, emotional numbness
, ▶ anorexia - weight status Answer: typically significantly underweight
▶ anorexia - onset Answer: earlier onset: early/mid adolescence
▶ anorexia - mortality Answer: highest mortality of all disorders
▶ anorexia = Answer: restriction, denial, high mortality
▶ bulimia = Answer: binge/purge cycle, insight, emotional coping with food
▶ bulimia nervosa - insight and awareness? Answer: recognizes abnormal
binge/purge behaviors
high shame, guilt, distress
▶ bulimia nervosa - core preoccupation Answer: focused on achieving an
'ideal' but unrealistic weight
less emphasis on extreme thinness
▶ bulimia nervosa - weight status Answer: usually normal weight or slightly
overweight
▶ bulimia nervosa - prevalence Answer: more common than anorexia
▶ bulimia nervosa - medical risk Answer: lower mortality than anorexia
▶ what is the most common eating disorder Answer: binge eating disorder
▶ Binge eating disorder typically affects what age range Answer: 45-55
▶ binge eating disorder - main risks Answer: weight gain increases risks for
DM and HTN (not doing anything like excessively exercising to
compensate)
▶ nursing care of eating disorders - first thing you should do Answer: Make
sure to rule out other physical illnesses first
▶ nursing care of eating disorders - check __ and __ Answer: Russell's
sign - callused hands from vomiting
