Assessment of a client reveals severe and sudden mood swings from mania to depression. Which diagnosis should the nurse suspect?

A. Purging is a behavior associated with bulimia nervosa, where individuals engage in self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas to compensate for binge eating episodes.

C. Night eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of night eating, typically waking up from sleep to consume food, often accompanied by a lack of appetite in the morning and a significant portion of daily caloric intake occurring after the evening meal.

D. Pica is a disorder characterized by persistent eating of non-nutritive substances, such as clay, dirt, chalk, or paper. Pica involves eating non-food substances and is recognized as an eating disorder due to the potential harm it can cause.

F. Binge eating disorder involves recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food within a discrete period, accompanied by a sense of loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike bulimia nervosa, individuals with binge eating disorder do not engage in purging behaviors.

B. Cataplexy is a symptom of narcolepsy, characterized by sudden episodes of muscle weakness or loss of muscle tone, often triggered by strong emotions.

E. Nocturnal myoclonus, also known as periodic limb movement disorder, involves involuntary muscle contractions or jerks during sleep, which can disrupt sleep but is not related to eating behaviors.

C This is a common and potentially life-threatening complication in individuals with anorexia nervosa who are undergoing treatment. It can lead to cardiac arrhythmias.

A. Anorexia nervosa can lead to electrolyte imbalances, including hyponatremia (low serum sodium level), due to inadequate intake of sodium and fluid restriction. Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can also contribute to hyponatremia by causing the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), which leads to water retention and dilutional hyponatremia. However, it is not as life-threatening as hypokalemia.

B. Anorexia nervosa can lead to electrolyte imbalances, including hyponatremia (low serum sodium level), due to inadequate intake of sodium and fluid restriction. However, it is not as life-threatening as hypokalemia.

D. Anorexia nervosa typically does not lead to hyperkalemia (high serum potassium level), as potassium is usually lost through purging behaviors or inadequate intake. Antidepressants also do not commonly cause hyperkalemia as a side effect.