Special Population: Persons with Medical Illnesses

Eating Disorders with purging (i.e. forced vomiting after eating) use of laxatives and weight loss cause disturbances in electrolyte balance that may lead to cardiac symptoms as well as neurological changes and can be life threatening.  Blood tests are necessary to rule these electrolyte imbalances out so these individuals do require referral to their own medical provider or an Urgent Care or Emergency Room.  Helping these individuals maintain as much control as possible is extremely important in crisis intervention so it is always best to engage the person in the planning and use more restrictive interventions only when all other options have been offered to the person.