Case report: Autism spectrum disorder as the basis of a feeding problem. A view from nursing care.

This study looked at one 38-year-old woman with autism and anorexia who was having thoughts of suicide. Nurses created a special care plan that considered her autism needs, like making changes to her environment and teaching methods. After 3 months in hospital, she felt much better emotionally, stopped having suicidal thoughts, and gained 7kg to reach a healthy weight.

This case report describes nursing care for a 38-year-old woman with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN). The patient was hospitalised due to suicidal ideation following personal losses. The nursing approach used Gordon's functional health patterns to identify key problems including ineffective health self-management, impaired social interaction, malnutrition, and constipation. Interventions were tailored to address ASD-specific needs, including environmental adaptations for sensory sensitivities and personalised educational strategies.

After three months of specialised nursing care, significant improvements were observed in emotional regulation, coping mechanisms, and suicidal ideation resolution, with 7kg weight gain achieving normal BMI range.

Suggests nursing care plans should incorporate ASD-specific adaptations for individuals with co-occurring autism and eating disorders. Environmental modifications and personalised educational approaches may be beneficial. Highlights need for autism-informed mental health nursing practices.

Single case report limits generalisability. No control group or comparison with standard care. Subjective assessment of improvements without standardised outcome measures. Limited follow-up data beyond hospitalisation period.

This case report presents the nursing approach to a 38-year-old woman diagnosed with restrictive-type anorexia nervosa (AN) since the age of 15 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 35. The patient was admitted due to structured suicidal ideation with a high risk of acting on it, triggered by the experience of significant personal losses. A comprehensive assessment was conducted using Gordon's functional health patterns, identifying the following nursing diagnoses: ineffective health self-management, impaired social interaction, imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements, and constipation. Additionally, collaborative problems such as insomnia, chronic pain, and suicidal behaviour risk were identified.

The care plan was designed following the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) and the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), incorporating individualised interventions that included adapting the environment to the sensory and communicative needs associated with ASD, as well as implementing a personalized educational strategy to promote health self-management. After three months of hospitalization, notable improvements were observed in emotional regulation, coping mechanisms, and the resolution of suicidal ideation. Furthermore, a weight gain of 7 kg was achieved, placing the patient within the normal BMI range. This case highlights the importance of specialised mental health nursing care and the need to tailor interventions to comprehensively address the needs resulting from the coexistence of ASD and AN.