nervosa

Nervosa is a Latin adjective meaning nervous or related to nerves. In medical and scientific terminology it appears in various contexts, including as part of the names of certain conditions and in taxonomic binomials. The term is most widely recognized in connection with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, and it also occurs in the name bulimia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder characterized by restricted energy intake leading to low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a disturbance in self-perceived weight or shape. Onset commonly occurs during adolescence but can arise at any age. The condition can be associated with medical complications such as electrolyte disturbances, bone loss (osteoporosis), and cardiovascular problems. Treatment is typically multidisciplinary, involving medical monitoring, nutritional rehabilitation, and psychotherapy—most often enhanced cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-E) or family-based therapy. Pharmacotherapy may be used to address comorbid conditions or mood symptoms but is not considered the primary treatment for core eating-disorder symptoms. Recovery trajectories vary and can require long-term support.

Outside clinical use, nervosa appears as a descriptive epithet in the scientific names of various organisms, reflecting historical naming practices. As a standalone term, nervosa does not denote a single disease or condition; its meaning is best understood within the full phrase or binomial in which it appears.