Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses.
In binging and purging eating disorders such as Bulimia, an electrolyte imbalance may result from both excessive vomiting and use of saline or sodium phosphate enemas. When persons vomit regularly, as in Bulimia, stomach acid containing hydrogen ions and chloride ions are lost.
What are eating disorders? The eating disorders anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, and their variants, all feature serious disturbances in eating behavior and weight regulation. They are associated with a wide range of adverse psychological, physical, and social consequences.